M5 reopens after lorry collides with overhead gantry
Avon and Somerset Police have now launched an appeal for information following the incident between Cribs Causeway and Avonmouth
Last updated 2nd Mar 2023
National Highways have now fully reopened the northbound M5 near Bristol following a gantry collision.
The incident happened during rush hour today (March 2) at just after 8AM, closing both directions of the road between junctions 17 (Cribbs Causeway) and 18 (Avonmouth).
Because of earlier police investigations and the safety risks to drivers, the M5 was fully closed southbound and northbound.
National Highways say the incident displaced electronic and fixed signage, severed electrical cables, while hydraulic fluid also spilled on to the carriageway, which also required emergency resurfacing.
Teams from the road organisation and Avon and Somerset Police came to the scene to undertake extensive safety assessments and investigations.
Following their inspections, teams from National Highways set about recovering the lorry bed, which had become stuck in the gantry.
Following a delicate recovery operation to extricate the tipper bed, the removal of all gantry fittings and signage, and further safety inspections, the northbound carriageway was reopened at 5.20pm.
The road organisation anticipated the southbound carriageway to be open later this evening once emergency surfacing had been completed.
Tonight, one lane remains closed.
Terry Robinson, South West Engineering Manager for National Highways, said: “We were forced to close the M5 today to protect the travelling public and given the scale of the damage, we and our teams have been working extremely hard to ensure we could reopen by this evening.
“The incident occurred on a particularly busy section of the M5, we have been working with our police partners throughout the day, and we appreciate the closure has caused significant delays to people’s journeys.
“The gantry is now perfectly safe but the extent of the damage means we will need to replace the structure and we’ll be looking to move a new gantry into place in the coming days, under a planned overnight closure.
“We’ll communicate that once we have a date confirmed, and in the meantime we thank all drivers for their co-operation and patience today.”
In the meantime, drivers can check live traffic conditions or follow @HighwaysSWEST for updates.
Police enquiries continue
This evening, Avon and Somerset Police released an appeal for information following the incident.
In a statement, they said: "Enquiries are being carried out following a collision on the M5 near Bristol this morning (Thursday 2 March).
"We were called at approximately 8.20am after a tipper lorry collided with a overhead gantry on the southbound carriageway between junction 17 (Cribbs Causeway) and junction 18 (Avonmouth).
"We understand the lorry joined the M5 at junction 17 and are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or the vehicle in the moments leading up to the incident. Dashcam footage from drivers in the area and showing the lorry would also be gratefully received.
"There were no reported injuries but the road remains closed in both directions on safety grounds while National Highways engineers have been assessing damage to the overhead gantry and the road surface.
"It is hoped that work will be completed within the next couple of hours.
"If you can help our enquiries, please call 101 and give the call-handler reference number 5223050000."