M5 closure near Bristol to allow bridge works

Part of the M5 near Bristol is to be closed overnight to allow a new bridge to be installed.

The previous bridge at Lawrence Weston was demolished in December 2009 after it had been damaged after being hit by a number of vehicles.

Once installed there will be four weeks of work before it is opened.

The motorway will be closed northbound at junction 18a. Southbound traffic should leave at junction 15 and follow a diversionary route via the M4.

A Highways Agency spokesman said the motorway would be closed from 2000 GMT on Saturday to 1000 GMT on Sunday.

The bridge, which will be used by pedestrians and cyclists, forms part of a traffic-free route towards the Bristol Channel, Severn Beach and into south Wales.