Overview
- The motorway is closed in both directions from 7pm Friday, October 24, to 6am Monday, October 27, between junctions 18 (Bath) and 19 (M32).
- National Highways is lifting eight steel beams into place for the replacement A432 Badminton Road Bridge.
- A signed diversion of about 15 miles via the A46, A420 and A4174 to the M32 is in place, with officials warning of heavy delays given typical flows of 3,000–4,000 vehicles per hour.
- Avon and Somerset Police reported a driver near J18 who allegedly ignored the hard closure, left the carriageway and was arrested before being taken to hospital, increasing congestion.
- National Express is running diverted services with several stops suspended until 6am Monday and free ticket amendments offered, and the new bridge is scheduled to open in early 2026 with remaining works expected to cause minimal disruption.