Residents, businesses and road users are being invited to a series of public information events to find out more about the next major stage of Gloucestershire County Council’s M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme.
The scheme will transform junction 10 into an all-movements junction, allowing drivers to join and leave the M5 in all directions for the first time ever. It will also enable the delivery of over 20,000 new homes, including more than 7,000 affordable homes, and support the Golden Valley development and the National Cyber Innovation Centre and wider technology cluster in creating around 12,000 skilled jobs for local people.
The events will give people the chance to view the latest plans, speak to the project team and ask questions about the next major stage of construction, which will include the closure of the existing northbound entry and southbound exit slip roads at junction 10. These closures are currently expected to last for an extended period of around two years from early 2027.
The M5 itself will remain open throughout the slip road closures. However, drivers will not be able to join the M5 northbound or leave the M5 southbound at junction 10 while the slip roads are closed. Withybridge Lane will also be closed during this period while work takes place.
Cllr Julian Tooke, Gloucestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Business, Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure, said: “The scheme is a major investment in Gloucestershire’s transport network that will improve connectivity locally and regionally, support economic growth and help unlock future development across the county.
“Slip road closures will be needed as part of the next phase of construction so that the most complex parts of the work can be carried out safely and as quickly as reasonably possible. Although the exact duration is still being reviewed, we anticipate these closures will be for an extended period in the region of two years.
“We know this will be difficult for people who use junction 10 and nearby roads, including Withybridge Lane which will also be closed. Different construction and traffic management approaches have been considered, but some options do increase safety risks, cost more, create more changes for drivers or extend motorway traffic management.
“That is why the public information events are so important. They will help people understand what is planned, why this approach is being considered, what it could mean for their journeys and how to find out more as the details are confirmed.”
The slip roads need to close so the most complex parts of the work can be carried out and completed as safely and efficiently as reasonably possible. The project team has considered other ways of carrying out the work and managing traffic, taking into account the impact on road users, local communities, safety, cost and the overall construction timetable. The council believes a single closure is the best option, rather than opening and closing the slip roads at different stages or repeatedly changing access.
The council and its partners, including National Highways, are continuing to review the approach to make sure the closures support safe construction, effective project delivery and efforts to minimise disruption as far as possible.
Andrew Jackson, Programme Leader at National Highways, said: “One of our priorities is to minimise disruption for people using our roads during any works, which is why we are working closely with Gloucestershire County Council during planning and while this important junction is upgraded.
“There will be a need for careful liaison and coordination of activity across the roads network, always seeking to keep people moving while supporting a major investment in the region’s economy.”
The project team is looking at how the closures could affect nearby roads and communities, including whether drivers may use unsuitable local roads to avoid the diversions. More information about the diversion routes and how these impacts could be managed will be shared as plans are finalised.
The scheme also includes a new link road connecting the A4019 to the B4634 in west Cheltenham and the widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road, as well as the provision of new active travel facilities and flood mitigation measures. The A4019 will remain open throughout the work, although temporary traffic management will be needed at certain times.
The scheme is expected to cost £372 million. Funding has been secured from a range of sources to date, including contributions from: UK Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England; district council Community Infrastructure Levy funding; Gloucestershire County Council; and S106 contributions from developers whose sites will directly benefit from the scheme.
Public information events
Residents, businesses and road users will have the opportunity to attend a series of public information events where they can meet members of the project team, view scheme plans and visualisations, ask questions and learn more about the construction programme, diversion routes and traffic arrangements.
The public information events will take place on the following dates:
- Wednesday 4 November, 10am – 3pm: West Cheltenham Community Fire Station
- Thursday 5 November, 3pm – 8pm: West Cheltenham Community Fire Station
- Tuesday 17 November, 10am – 2pm: Hesters Way Community Resource Centre
- Wednesday 18 November, 3pm – 7pm: The Watson Hall, Tewkesbury
- Thursday 26 November, 2pm – 7pm: Stoke Orchard Community Centre
All the latest information on the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme can be found on the scheme webpage at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/J10, where you can also sign up to receive updates as the scheme progresses.