This page is about the original scheme implemention in 2012. It is no longer maintained but is retained as a historical record.
Looking for news about the M4/M5 safety enhancements being carried out in 2023? You can find details on our Roadworks page.
The £88.6m managed motorway scheme – the first of its kind in the South West – will involve the use of variable mandatory speed limits and use of the hard shoulder as an extra traffic lane to ease congestion.
The scheme will be implemented on the M4 between the top of the M32 and the Almondsbury Interchange and on the M5 between Cribbs Causeway and the Almondsbury Interchange.
The Highways Agency says the work is needed because the route suffers from heavy congestion and unpredictable journey times.
Project Timescales
- Preparatory work begins: November 2011
- M4 construction work commences in January 2012 and will be ongoing until December 2012
- M5 construction work commences April 2012 and the scheme will be completed in spring 2013
Comprehensive information about the scheme can be found here:
M4 J19-20 and M5 J15-17 Managed Motorways (Highways Agency)
M4/M5 Managed Motorways Helpline: 0800 432 0918
Public Consultation
A public consultation exhibition was held in Bradley Stoke on 4th November 2011.
The display panels from the exhibition may be viewed here:
M4 J19-20 and M5 J15-17 Managed Motorways Start of Works Exhibition Boards [PDF, 4MB]
Latest News from the Highways Agency
19th April 2012 | Press release
Overnight closures on the M5 and M4 near Bristol as work on the managed motorway scheme continues
As part of the work to deliver the M4 and M5 managed motorway scheme at the Almondsbury interchange, near Bristol, there will be further overnight closures of the M5 motorway, in one direction at a time, on weekday nights from 23 April to 1 May.
3rd April 2012 | Press release
Overnight closures of the M5 near Bristol this month as work to deliver the managed motorway scheme continues
As part of the work to transform the M4 and M5 at the Almondsbury interchange near Bristol to a managed motorway, the M5 motorway will be closed overnight, in one direction at a time, from 10 to 15 April
27th January 2012 | Press release
Work to Install Temporary Safety Barriers for M4-M5 Managed Motorways Scheme
Overnight slip-road closures at the Almondsbury Interchange, near Bristol, will be in place from 30th January for five nights, to allow temporary safety barriers to be installed. Diversions for M5 southbound traffic wishing to join M4 (eastbound and westbound).
12th January 2011 | Website article
Impact on your journey
9th January 2012 | Press release
Overnight closures of the M4 near Bristol this month
Latest News (Parish Bulletins)
Parish Bulletin Number 17 (May 2013)
May 2013, the 18th month of construction, sees the project reach a major milestone commence the removal of narrow lanes from the M4.
Traffic management activities during May 2013
Various works will be carried out whilst these closures are in place. Closures will be in effect from as early as 9pm, if traffic flows are low enough, and will be removed by 6am the following day.
M4 & M5 full closures during May 2013:
- 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th & 13th-16th May – M5 northbound and southbound J15-J17 (no access to M4 from M5 J16)
- 9th May – M5 northbound J15-J17 (no access to M4 from M5 J16)
- 10th & 17th May – M5 northbound J15-J17 (no access to M4 from M5 J16); M5 J16 southbound exit slip road; M4 eastbound and westbound to M5 southbound link roads
- 11th May – M5 southbound J14-J15; M4 eastbound to M5 northbound and southbound link roads
- 12th May – M4 eastbound to M5 northbound and southbound link roads
- 18th May – M5 southbound J15-J17; M4 eastbound and westbound to M5 southbound link roads
- 19th-23rd & 28th-31st May – M4 eastbound and westbound J19-J20; M5 southbound to M4 westbound link road
For full details of closures and diversions, see the ‘Journey Impact’ tab on the Highways Agency project webpage.
Construction activities during May 2013
- M4: Removal of narrow running lanes and temporary safety barriers
- M4/M5: Installation of traffic sensors
- M4/M5: Gantry fit out
For full details, see: Parish Bulletin Number 17 (May 2013) [PDF]
Previous Parish Bulletins
- Parish Bulletin Number 16 (Apr 2013) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 15 (Mar 2013) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 14 (Feb 2013) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 13 (Jan 2013) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 12 (Dec 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 11 (Nov 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 10 (Oct 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 9 (Sep 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 8 (Aug 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 7 (Jul 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 6 (Jun 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 5 (May 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 4 (Apr 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 3 (Mar 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 2 (Feb 2012) [PDF]
- Parish Bulletin Number 1 (Jan 2012) [PDF]