M5 drivers facing year of disruption as £15m project starts

A new central reservation is to be installed on the M5 through Worcestershire in a £15m project which will take a year to complete.

National Highways said a new concrete central reservation barrier will replace the existing steel one which has been in place for about 20 years.

The work, which will involve a 4.5 mile stretch of the road, will start on February 21.

During that time, a temporary 50mph speed limit will be introduced and there will be some overnight closures.

The works will be between junction 6 for Worcester North and Warndon and junction 7 for Worcester South.

“This £15m safety upgrade is an integral part of keeping people safe on the M5 in Worcestershire,” project manager Colin Jackson said.

“We know that the high-impact absorption design of concrete barriers significantly reduces the risk of vehicles colliding with traffic travelling on the opposite side of the road.

“By replacing the existing steel restraint in the central reservation, we’re also able to reduce the need for ongoing maintenance to keep it safe which means fewer roadworks in the location for routine maintenance.”

There will be a series of overnight closures from 21 February until 13 March to enable narrow lanes to be installed.