'Safety risk' of queued traffic to be reduced on M5

Date: 26/8/2010

Work is set to get underway to improve traffic flow on the M5 near Gloucester in September.

The Highways Agency is undertaking the 14-week initiative in order to deal with problems caused by queued traffic at junction 12.

Mark Arberry, Project Manager at the organisation, said peak-time congestion is a difficult issue for motorists on this stretch of road.

"The work we are doing will increase the capacity of the junction, improve traffic flow and reduce the safety risk of traffic queuing back on to the M5 main carriageway," he explained.

Delays will be kept to an absolute minimum while the work is being carried out, Mr Arberry added.

There will be no daytime reduction in the number of lanes available, he continued, but the junction will be closed between 08:00 BST and 18:00 BST with a diversion.

The Highways Agency is an executive body of the Department for Transport and is responsible for maintaining and improving England's road network.

Posted by Mary Treen