M5 junction 8 carriageway repair scheme

As part of routine inspections, we identified some deterioration on the southbound M5 carriageway. We’re now carrying out extensive ground repair work to ensure the road remains safe for motorists for years to come.

Start date January 2024

End date Summer 2024

Cost £13 million

Latest updates

18 June 2024
We're nearing the end of our work

We’re finishing our work to re-stabilise the area between the main M5 southbound carriageway and junction 8 southbound exit slip road.

We’ve also built a new retaining wall alongside the slip road and stabilised the embankment.

We need to carry out some further work along the southbound carriageway which will require some overnight closures between 8pm and 6am:
- M5 southbound between junction 7 and 9
- M50 eastbound between M50 junction 1 and M5 junction 8
The closures will be on weeknights to mid July.

Please remember that closure details can change at short notice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page.

A clearly signed diversion will be in place. Plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey.
07 December 2023

Carriageway repair work to begin in January

As part of routine inspections, we identified some deterioration on the M5 carriageway and at the side of the road. For the safety of motorists, and to help keep teams safe, we closed lane one and the hard shoulder on the southbound carriageway between the junction 8 exit and entry slip roads.

We’ve carried out a number of tests and surveys and analysis of the results has shown that part of the ground underneath the M5 has degraded. Comprehensive strengthening works are now required to restabilise the affected area which is between the main southbound carriageway and M5 junction 8 southbound exit slip road.

A new retaining wall will be built alongside the slip road, and part of the existing slope replaced with an improved, higher performance material to stabilise the embankment.

We aim to complete the repair work by summer 2024. We’d encourage drivers to plan ahead and allow additional time for their journeys when travelling through the area.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption to those living close to the work. Our teams will make every effort to carefully manage noise levels and additional lighting to minimise the impact.

See more updates

Project information

We'll be carrying out extensive ground repair work on the embankment between the southbound carriageway and junction 8 exit slip road.

The work involves:

raising the ground level between the carriageway and slip road
building a retaining wall alongside the exit slip road
reconstructing the main M5 carriageway and exit slip road

This repair work will ensure the road remains safe to motorists for years to come. By carrying out this work now, future requirements for closures for routine repairs will be greatly reduced.

It forms part of our ongoing work to improve safety, maintain traffic flow and offer road user assurance.