Drivers advised to plan for weekend closure of M4

The A432 bridge was demolished after cracks were discovered in the structure

A stretch of a busy motorway is set to close in both directions for the construction of a new bridge.

The start date of the M4 closure between junctions 18 ( Bath) and 19 (M32) has been pushed back from 13 October to 19:00 BST on October 24 October, and will last until 06:00 BST on 27 October.

The closure is needed to allow the beams for the new A432 Badminton Road Bridge to be lifted into place, National Highways said.

The bridge, which was built in 1966, was demolished in March this year after engineers discovered cracks in the structure. National Highways said it is working to reopen the A432 "as soon as possible".

Eight steel beams will be lifted into place across the motorway as part of the final full weekend closure of the M4 required for the project.

National Highways said once the beams are in place, the remainder of the bridge can be constructed with minimal disruption to the motorway below, and is expected to open in early 2026.

The new bridge will be 46.5m in length and 20m wide - slightly wider than its predecessor in order to ensure the road lanes and pavements are wide enough to meet modern safety standards.

The barriers along the side will also be higher than before to protect people walking and cycling.

The M4, which connects Wales and the west of England to London, sees between 3,000 and 4,000 vehicles an hour on this stretch over peak weekend periods.

Drivers are warned the closure will cause substantial disruption and are advised to avoid the area and plan journeys for alternative times if possible.

More information about a planned diversion can be found on the National Highways website.