'Nightmare' M5 roadworks through Gloucester to last until May
MOTORISTS can expect delays around Gloucester until May while work takes place on the M5.
The Highways Agency is carrying out £4.5million of work between Junctions 11a and 14 with the hard shoulder and one lane of the motorway in each direction coned off. A 50mph limit is in place.
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Motorway
Commuters say it has made their journey in and out of the city a "nightmare" and have complained of never seeing workers in the coned-off stretch.
During rush hour, cars have been queuing back to Quedgeley bypass and even turning around to try and avoid the jams.
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A commuter from Hardwicke, who did not want to be named, said: "It's horrendous. The cones are for miles. I don't see why it's necessary, especially as I haven't ever seen anyone working there. It's adding 20 minutes to my commute."
Another, from Quedgeley, said: "Whenever there is an accident on the M5 the city becomes gridlocked."
Quedgeley parish councillor Barry Kirby said: "People have been saying it's really bad and asking why they are there again and can't they just do all the work in one go?"
The project started on January 14 but stopped for two days because of the snow. A Highways spokeswoman said the lost time had been made up and added: "Not all of the work is visual to road users but our contractors have been working throughout the day and at nights."
The agency is replacing sections of the steel central reservation with a concrete barrier which it said will reduce the risk of vehicles crossing the motorway if there is a crash. The work also includes repairs to bridges and drainage, and fence replacement.
Restrictions will be lifted for Easter holidays.
Service delivery team leader Dave Sledge said: "With careful planning we have been able to undertake a number of schemes at the same time which will significantly reduce disruption."
2 Comments
by tishwash
Sunday, February 03 2013, 3:34PM
“Why don't they do one small section at a time.....”
by djrose_mx5
Saturday, February 02 2013, 3:18PM
“I've been on that stretch of the M5 recently 4 or 5 times, stuck to the 50mph limit as most people do (not all of course), and have yet to see a single person working on the coned off areas. If they are working day and night they must have invisible cloaks on. I did see a 'highways Maintenance' van parked within the cones one night but no-one was there doing anything.
It really is a national joke, except it's not particularly funny.”