M5 extends 22 miles into Somerset
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• The 224-mile-long section of M5 between the Portbury interchange midway between Bristol and Portishead, south of the River Avon, and Edithmead, north of Highbridge, Somerset, will be opened to traffic at 12 noon on January 23 unless adverse weather makes it impossible to complete outstanding work by then. Dependent on the weather, some minor work may have to be done after the motorway is in use.
The M5 at present ends at the Bristol Portway (A4) at Avonmouth. Because of various difficulties the bridge which will carry M5 over the River Avon is not due for completion until September 1974, but efforts are being made to open it sooner. Until the bridge is completed M5 traffic will have to cross the river by existing routes.
The most direct route between M5 at Portbury and the Avonmouth Interchange is by A369 to Cumberland Basin and then by the Portway (A4). The A369 is being improved to carry the expected increased traffic and a diversionary route made for vehicles weighing more than 3 tons to avoid Rownham Hill. These improvements are expected to be completed before next summer.
2g The section of motorway now to be opened has cost about £33m and will complete some 292 miles of motorway between Carlisle and the South West.