M5 motorway

The M5 quite closely follows the route of the A38 road. The two deviate slightly around Bristol and the area south of Bristol from junctions 16 to the Sedgemoor services north of junction 22. The A38 goes straight through the centre of Bristol and passes by Bristol Airport, while the M5 skirts both, with access to the airport from junctions 18, 19 or 22. The A38 continues south into Devon from junction 31, near Exminster.

Junction 15 of the M5 is a large four-level stack interchange, named the Almondsbury Interchange, where the M5 meets the M4.

The Avonmouth Bridge, between junctions 18 and 19, is often a bottleneck during heavy traffic periods, due mainly to lane drops at either end of the bridge for the respective junctions, and the sharp angle in the centre of the bridge, which causes larger vehicles to slow considerably.{{cn|date=January 2023}} There are split-level carriageways where the M5 ascends the hillsides above the Gordano Valley, between Portishead, junction 19 and Clevedon, junction 20.

Between junction 21, Weston-super-Mare and junction 22, Burnham-on-Sea, the M5 passes by an isolated landmark hill called Brent Knoll and crosses the western end of the Mendip Hills. The Willow Man sculpture is visible from both carriageways, and acts as a landmark just to the south of junction 23, which {{as of|2021|lc=on}} had degraded and lost its head and arms.{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-57439671 | title = M5 Somerset Willow Man: 'Can't let him fall apart' | date = 13 August 2021 | newspaper = BBC News | access-date = 8 January 2023}}

The first {{convert|26|mi}} of the M5 motorway was constructed as a dual two-lane motorway with Worcestershire County Council acting as engineer.{{harvp|Charlesworth|1984|pp=135–140}} This section{{spaced ndash}}from junction 4 (Lydiate Ash) in the north to a trumpet junction with the M50 in the south{{spaced ndash}}opened in July 1962.{{harvp|Charlesworth|1984|pp=100–123}}, Table 7.3 This original section of the M5, from junctions 4 to 8, was widened to provide six lanes in the early 1990s. During this work, the northbound Strensham services were rebuilt further away from the modified M50 junction.{{cite web |url=https://www.ciht.org.uk/ukma/motorways-by-region/m5/m5-widening-between-junctions-3-8/ |title=M5 Widening between Junctions 3 & 8 |access-date=7 January 2021 |publisher=CIHT}}

File:Fiddington M5 Motorway under construction geograph-3193189-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

Worcestershire County Council, the police and particularly the county surveyor of Worcestershire made repeated representations that a dual three-lane standard motorway was appropriate. The Ministry of Transport insisted that a dual two-lane motorway would be built at a cost of around £8{{nbsp}}million. The Motorways Archive also records that the carriageways were also built to a lower overall width of {{convert|88|feet|m}} rather than {{convert|100|feet|m}} to reduce the loss of agricultural land. When the decision became necessary to widen the Worcestershire section of M5, it cost £123{{nbsp}}million.

The {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on}} dual two-lane section between junctions 16 and 17 built at Filton, near Bristol, was also opened in 1962, and was intended to replace the pre-war Filton bypass.Ordnance Survey One Inch Map of Great Britain, Series 7 Sheet 156, major roads revised 1963. Gloucestershire County Council acted as engineer for this section, which was widened to a dual three-lane motorway in 1969.

North of junction 4 the M5 was constructed in sections, from 1967 to 1970, together with the Frankley services. Much of the northern section beyond junction 3, from about Oldbury to the junction with the M6 motorway, was constructed as an elevated dual three-lane motorway over Birmingham Canal (Old Main Line), Birmingham Canal (New Main Line), and Titford Pool using concrete pillars.

West Bromwich to Ray Hall (M6) was planned to open in January 1970, but would remain closed until May 1970, due to local traffic in Smethwick, and consultation with the local police.

Oldbury to West Bromwich was to open in May 1970, constructed by W. & C. French.

Quinton to Oldbury was planned to open in March 1970.

The M5 was also extended southwards, in sections, from 1967 to 1977, through Gloucestershire and Somerset, to Exeter in Devon as a dual three-lane motorway, together with the Strensham services.

Costain built the section from Bredon, Worcestershire, to Tredington, of 4.75 miles, of £3,392,392, with the contract awarded on 23 July 1968. It was to open in March 1970. In 1968, it was hoped to reach Edithmead, in Somerset, by the end of 1972, and Exeter by 1975.Bristol Evening Post Tuesday 23 July 1968, page 8 Concrete for the motorway junctions came from Beckford, Worcestershire.Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 25 June 1969, page 6

Cementation and Leonard Fairclough built the section from Tredington, Gloucestershire to Brookthorpe-with-Whaddon, being £9,998,163, with the contract awarded on 25 April 1969, of 12.5 miles.Manchester Evening News Friday 25 April 1969, page 20 Work started in May 1969.Times Saturday April 26 1969, page 15

Strensham to Piff's Elm was planned to open in May 1970, but there were defects in the asphalt, that had to be removed. It opened on Tuesday 16 June 1970, when the A38 through Tewkesbury was finally bypassed.Birmingham Mail Thursday 18 June 1970, page 13 Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, the Conservative candidate, and incumbent MP, for Cirencester and Tewkesbury gave a speech at the unofficial opening ceremony. Tewkesbury Borough Council had wanted an official opening ceremony, but the Ministry of Transport had told them not to, to not draw attention to the upcoming election. Nonetheless the borough council arranged an opening ceremony, with a ceremonial motorcade. At the Ashchurch roundabout, Nicholas Ridley cut a white ribbon, and drove off in a 1911 Renault vehicle. The police escorted the unofficial impromptu motorcade off the motorway. Such an event had been restricted by the Ministry of Transport.Western Daily Press Wednesday 17 June 1970, page 7

Sydney Green & Sons built the section from Brookthorpe (Junction 12, B4072) to Alkerton, Gloucestershire (Junction 14, A4096 Stroudwater Interchange), being 6.25 miles. Work started in late June 1969.Bristol Evening Post Thursday 5 June 1969, page 1 The section openedbon Tuesday 6 April 1971 at 12pm, with section north from A4019 Junction at Junction 10 Piff's Elm Interchange.Bristol Evening Post Wednesday 7 April 1971, page 31

Central crash barriers were added to the Gloucestershire section in late 1973.Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 10 October 1973, page 14

For the section north of Almondsbury, Kier had an office on Wickwar Road in Falfield. Kier had a £1.6m contract to build 19 bridges and structures.Times Tuesday February 10 1970, page 29Western Daily Press Friday 24 July 1970, page 10

The 2.5 miles from Almondsbury to Cribbs Causeway was built by a consortium of Alfred McAlpine and Leonard Fairclough, with the contract awarded in May 1965.Bristol Evening Post Friday 7 May 1965, page 2

File:Elevated southbound carriageway, M5 - geograph.org.uk - 1465049.jpg

The plan for Avonmouth to Clevedon, junctions 19 to 20, was displayed to public in March 1967, where the route ran along the scenic Gordano Valley.Bristol Evening Post Saturday 11 March 1967, page 8

File:Under the M5 - geograph.org.uk - 697206.jpg

The Wynhol Viaduct, with 187ft spans, in Clapton in Gordano, was named after Wynhol Farm, which follows the Failand Ridge.[https://nationalhighways.co.uk/national-highways-engineers-a-celebration-visit-to-mark-50th-anniversary-of-m5-viaduct/ Wynhol Viaduct] The contract of £5.75m was awarded to Cementation Construction, who had a site office on Caswell Lane in Portbury, and another office at Clapton Wick.Western Daily Press Tuesday 3 February 1970, page 8The Gordano Valley section opened on 25 January 1973.

File:Construction of the M5 motorway northeast of Junction 20 at Clevedon - geograph.org.uk - 6777999.jpg

Rock blasting with explosives took place east of Clevedon in January 1970.Bristol Evening Post Tuesday 30 December 1969, page 9 Laing built the Clevedon Hills section.

In 1966 there was a proposal for a 'Bristol Spur' off the M5, to the Long Ashton bypass, to be built in 1968, to Clevedon. There was a public inquiry in 1966.

St Georges (Banwell) to Edithmead, junctions 21 to 22, was built through the western edge of the Mendip Hills. A E Farr, of Westbury in Wiltshire, part of Bovis, built the section, with the £8.5m contract awarded on 19 November 1969 for 8.7 miles.Times Thursday November 20 1969, page 22Bristol Evening Post Wednesday 19 November 1969, page 2

Edithmead to Dunball (Brent Knoll) was built by W. & C. French, with the contract awarded in January 1971. The site office was at Puriton, where a Roman villa was discovered on 18 February 1971,Bristol Evening Post Wednesday 24 February 1971, page 27 so work stopped for a week, whilst the site was investigated.Times Wednesday February 24 1971, page 14

The section from Huntworth (J24) to Blackbrook, on the east of Taunton, (J25) was built by A. Monk Ltd, of Padgate, with a contract for £5,721,086 in May 1973 for seven miles.Cheddar Valley Gazette Friday 4 May 1973, page 14 The southbound lane opened on Tuesday 4 November 1975, and the northbound lane opened on Tuesday 25 November 1975. But the motorway section was not legally a motorway for the first few weeks, as it was incomplete.Cheddar Valley Gazette Thursday 27 November 1975, page 8 The northbound lane was not fully finished until Easter 1976. Monk Ltd had asked for two extensions to the commercial contract, and some construction subcontractors had entered into liquidation.

The short section between junctions 27 and 29 was built between 1967 and 1969, by Devon County Council, as the A38 Cullompton Bypass, with the intention that it should become part of the M5. The termini for this section have since been removed, although part of the southern terminal roundabout is now used as an emergency access.{{cite web|url=http://www.uk-roads.co.uk/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11548&fullsize=|title=SABRE Photo Gallery}} The section was developed to motorway standards, and incorporated into the M5 in 1975.

Around Exminster, the M5 was originally planned to demolish most of north part of village, taking 25 houses and the Stowey Arms pub. On 27 March 1972 it was decided re-route the motorway at a cost of £1m, as a deep cutting would need to be dug through a hill.Times Tuesday March 28 1972, page 5 The new route was announced in mid-September 1972.Western Daily Press Friday 15 September 1972, page 7

When the initial English motorway system, including the now-M5, was being planned, no numbering system had been agreed. A 1958 Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation memo {{cn|date=September 2024}}suggested basing motorway numbers on the existing A road numbering scheme, suggesting that "M5" would be either the section of the London-Doncaster motorway (now the M1) south of Birmingham or the spur from it to Birmingham (now part of the M6), and that the Birmingham to Bristol motorway, now the M5, could be the M38. However, by 1959, the name M5 for the Birmingham to Bristol motorway had been agreed.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Rather than take its number from the sector radiating from London, as would be the case for a non-motorway road, it formed (along with the Bristol Channel and the M6) the boundary of a new numbering sector for motorways.

RAF Moreton Valence had a proposed service area in the late 1970s.Bristol Evening Post Thursday 5 June 1969, page 1

There was a proposal for service area in 1967 at Kingston Seymour, south of Clevedon.Bristol Evening Post Tuesday 3 October 1967, page 25

Proposals were announced in September 2009 for a new Gloucester Services between junctions 11a and 12.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucestershireheadlines/Eco-services-plan-M5/article-1343458-detail/article.html|title=Eco-services plan for M5|work=This is Gloucestershire|date=17 September 2009|access-date=15 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911234911/http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucestershireheadlines/Eco-services-plan-M5/article-1343458-detail/article.html|archive-date=11 September 2012}} A planning application was submitted in December 2009. Stroud District councillors approved the services in August 2010.{{cite web

|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-10928166

|title = Plans for Gloucestershire M5 service station approved

|publisher = BBC News Gloucestershire

|date = 10 August 2010

|access-date =10 August 2010}} The Services opened in May 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.westmorland.com/we-are-opening-new-motorway-service-area-gloucestershire|title=Planning background|work=Gloucestershiregatewayservies|access-date=11 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028085508/http://westmorland.com/we-are-opening-new-motorway-service-area-gloucestershire|archive-date=28 October 2010}}

Junction 1 surrounds a surviving gatehouse from the former Sandwell Hall. The section from junctions 16 and 18 was illuminated in about 1973 as part of a wider policy announced by Minister for Transport Industries, John Peyton, in 1972 to illuminate the {{convert|86|mi}} of UK motorway particularly prone to fog.{{cite magazine |title = News: Motorway lighting|magazine=Autocar | volume = 137 nbr 3978| page =19| date = 13 July 1972}}

In the late 1980s, junction 4a was built as part of the M42 motorway construction project. The route of the M42 was decided as early as 1972 but, owing to planning delays, the short section of the M42 north of Bromsgrove did not open until December 1989.{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.org/motorway/m42birmnott.htm |title=The Motorway Archive – M42 |publisher=Iht.org |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614054436/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m42birmnott.htm |archive-date=14 June 2009 }}

As the M5 traffic increased in the 1980s, junction 11, the main Gloucester and Cheltenham access (via the A40 Golden Valley by-pass) became increasingly congested. At the same time there were plans for large scale business and housing developments at Brockworth, near Gloucester. To relieve junction 11 of some of the new traffic generated, & avoid more congestion around both Cheltenham & Gloucester, a new junction, 11A, {{convert|3.5|mi}} south of junction 11, was constructed and opened in the mid-1990s. A further feature of this junction was to create a new route from the south west Midlands to London and central southern England via the A417, A419 and the M4 at junction 15.

File:040424 026 avonmouth.jpg

The Avonmouth Bridge was converted to eight lanes (four lanes in each direction) in the early 2000s. Later, in 2005–2006, parts of the M5 between junctions 17 and 20 were widened to 7 lanes (four lanes climbing the hills and three lanes descending the hills); variable message signs were added and parts of the central reservation was converted to a concrete step barrier. During this stage of construction the M5 became Britain's longest contraflow system,[http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-13457491,00.html Sky News – UK's Longest Contraflow] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614062143/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C30100-13457491%2C00.html |date=14 June 2007 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4388320.stm |title='Most complex' contraflow |work=BBC News |date=29 October 2005 |access-date=31 December 2011}}

spanning {{convert|9|mi|km}} between junctions 19 and 20. The M5 contraflow was said to be the most complicated ever built in the UK as the motorway is on a split level around the steep hills of the Gordano Valley; meaning four lanes plus an additional emergency vehicle lane were squeezed into that section.[http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/John+Penrose/810171f6-311a-49a9-a3a1-bd68fbc16839.htm#13 Western Daily Press – West beware! It's Britain's biggest road contraflow]

File:m5 motorway at gordano in bristol arp.jpg]]

In 2002, extended exits for junction 12 were constructed. The Highways Agency did not anticipate the traffic flows through the junction and the resultant queues soon extended back onto the motorway.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/4448870.stm |title=Agency admits error over junction |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 November 2005 |access-date=1 January 2008}}

The Cullompton services are signed on the motorway in the northbound direction only. This was implemented to reduce congestion at the low capacity junction, although there is still access available to the services southbound through the junction. Also, the northbound exit slip to the junction was reduced to one lane instead of two to reduce traffic on the small roundabout at the west side of the junction.

File:M5 Motorway Entrance Sign.jpeg]]

In 2009, it was announced that the lighting between junctions 30 and 31 would be turned off between midnight and 05:00 to save energy.{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7940865.stm

|title=Night switch-off for M5 lighting

|work=BBC News

|date = 12 March 2009

|access-date =10 August 2010}}

In September 2020, Highways England announced that the section between junctions 1 and 2 in the West Midlands will be one of four in England to have its speed limit reduced to {{convert|60|mph|abbr=on}} in a bid to reduce high levels of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide in the particular area.{{cite news |title=Motorways to trial 60mph limits to cut pollution |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54130862 |access-date=12 September 2020 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=12 September 2020}}

In 2020, it was announced that junction 10 would be undergoing significant roadworks as part of a redevelopment project on the A4019. The works will involve making the interchange full-access and dualling the A4019 east of the junction into Cheltenham.{{Cite web|title=Pinpoint|url=https://m5-junction-10-have-your-say.gloucestershire.gov.uk/site/schemesPage|access-date=2020-11-25|website=m5-junction-10-have-your-say.gloucestershire.gov.uk}} Works will commence in 2023 (subject to permission being granted) and be completed in 2024, according to the Gloucestershire County Council.

There have been suggestions that the Government extend the M5 south, to the city of Plymouth, which currently relies on the A38 road. The argument for such an extension has intensified in light of the closure of Plymouth City Airport in 2011, and the 2014 breaching of the South Devon Railway sea wall following storms that in turn, cut off Plymouth and Cornwall's rail access.{{cite web|title=M5 will be extended to Plymouth if these business leaders get their wish|date=27 September 2017|url=http://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/m5-extended-plymouth-business-leaders-541638|publisher=Cornwall Live|access-date=13 December 2017}}{{cite web|title=Calls to extend M5 from Exeter to Plymouth|date=20 November 2017|url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2017-11-20/calls-to-extend-m5-from-exeter-to-plymouth/|publisher=ITV|access-date=13 December 2017}} However this would involve a number of reconstruction works including realignment where the current route of the A38 follows tight bends.

Improvements to junction 25 at Taunton were approved with an £18{{nbsp}}million programme that will include the enlargement of the junction roundabout, the widening of the eastern junction slip road exit, and an additional roundabout southeast of the junction to provide access to a new business park and to a proposed bypass of the hamlet of Henlade.{{cite news|title=Taunton £18m motorway upgrade approved|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-43346890|date = 9 March 2018|work=BBC News}}

{{main|Murder of Melanie Hall}}

In October 2009, workmen clearing vegetation from the slip road at junction 14 discovered human bones in a black bin bag dumped in the bushes.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8294185.stm | title = M5 bones find confirmed as female | newspaper = BBC News | date = 7 October 2009 | access-date = 15 December 2022}} The police were called soon after, and it was soon established that the bones were those of a young female. A few days later, DNA found on the remains confirmed that the body was that of Melanie Hall, a Bath hospital worker who disappeared in June 1996 after a night out in Bath, and who had been declared dead in absentia in 2004. Dental records confirmed that the body was hers, and the police began a formal investigation into her murder.{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10478248| title = Man held over Melanie Hall M5 murder inquiry | access-date = 3 March 2013 | work = BBC News | date = 1 July 2010}} As of 2016 no one has been prosecuted in connection with this case. Some keys were also discovered and the police contacted Ford to help them trace the vehicle.

{{main|2011 M5 motorway crash}}

On the evening of Friday 4 November 2011, seven people were killed and a further 51 injured in a major crash involving over 50 vehicles which included cars, vans and large goods vehicles near junction 25 in West Monkton, near Taunton.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15606278 |title=Seven confirmed dead in M5 accident in Somerset |work=BBC News |date = 5 November 2011 |access-date =6 November 2011}} Several vehicles were burnt out in the fire which developed at the scene as the result of a series of explosions, and the road surface was seriously damaged, not just by the fire and explosions, but also by fuel spillage.{{cite news|last=O'Carroll|first=Lisa|title=M5 Crash: Latest Updates: Live|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/05/m5-crash-latest-updates-live?intcmp=239|access-date=5 November 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 November 2011}} The cause of the crash, which took place in wet foggy conditions close to a firework display, was investigated. One person was charged for breach under health and safety laws and found not guilty.{{cite news|url= http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Police-investigate-smoke-possible-cause-M5-pile/story-13763109-detail/story.html|newspaper= Western Morning News|title= Police investigate smoke as possible cause of M5 pile-up in which seven died|first= Jon|last= Bayley|date= 7 November 2011|access-date= 15 February 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140115044859/http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Police-investigate-smoke-possible-cause-M5-pile/story-13763109-detail/story.html|archive-date= 15 January 2014|url-status= dead}}

{{RJL|date=December 2021}}

Data from driver location signs are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information.{{cite web|url=http://www.trafficengland.com/map.aspx |title=Traffic England Live Traffic Condition Map |work=Locations extracted from Traffic Camera Popup (J1 to J10) |publisher=Highways Agency |access-date=4 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210221222/http://www.trafficengland.com/map.aspx |archive-date=10 February 2012 }}J11-J18: Driver Location Signs, M5 J18-11, M4 J22-15 (map) Highway Authority 2009J19-J30: Driver Location Signs, M5 J19-30 (map) – Highway Authority, 2009 Where both the start and end point of the junction are known, both have been included.

{{Clear}}

{| style="margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em;" class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#0079C1; text-align:center; color:white; "

| colspan="6" | M5 motorway junctions

|- style="background:#FFF; text-align:center;"

| mile

| km

| North-east bound exits (B carriageway)

| Junction

| South-west bound exits (A carriageway)

| Coordinates

|- style="text-align:center;"

|0.0

|0.0

| London (M1, M40), Birmingham (N&E), The North West, Walsall, Wolverhampton M6

| M6 J8

| Start of motorway

| {{coord|52.5360|N|1.9699|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Junction 8}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|2.7
3.3

|4.3
5.3

| West Bromwich, Birmingham (NW) A41

| J1

| West Bromwich, Sandwell, Birmingham (NW) A41

| {{coord|52.5119|N|1.9754|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 1}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|5.2
5.8

|8.4
9.3

| Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell A4123

|J2

| Birmingham (W), Dudley A4123

| {{coord|52.4927|N|2.0188|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 2}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|8.6
9.0

|13.8
14.5

| Birmingham (W&C) A456

|J3

| Kidderminster A456

| {{coord|52.4491|N|2.0152|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 3}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Entering West Midlands

|

| Entering Worcestershire

| {{coord|52.4329|N|2.0175|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Frankley services

| Services

| Frankley services

| {{coord|52.4292|N|2.0179|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Frankley services}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|14.0
14.4

|22.5
23.2

| Birmingham (SW) A38, Stourbridge A491

|J4

| Birmingham (SW), Bromsgrove A38

| {{coord|52.3786|N|2.0465|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 4}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|16.1

|25.9

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|rowspan=2| J4A

| London (M40), National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham {{rail-interchange|air}} M42

|rowspan=2| {{coord|52.3543|N|2.0711|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 4A}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|16.6

|26.7

| The North East, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham {{rail-interchange|air}} M42

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

|- style="text-align:center;"

|21.4
21.7

|34.5
35.0

| Bromsgrove, Droitwich A38

|J5

| Droitwich A38

| {{coord|52.2876|N|2.1202|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 5}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 27.0
27.5

| 43.5
44.2

| Worcester (N), Kidderminster A449

|rowspan=2| J6

| Worcester (N) A449, Evesham A4538

| rowspan=2| {{coord|52.2128|N|2.1579|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 6}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|- style="text-align:center;"

|30.2
30.7

| 48.6
49.4

| Worcester (S), Evesham A44

|J7

| Worcester (S) A44

| {{coord|52.1687|N|2.1803|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 7}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

|Strensham services (northbound)

|rowspan=2| Services

|{{no2}} No access

| {{coord|52.0652|N|2.1577|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Strensham services (northbound)}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

|{{no2}} No access

|Strensham services (southbound)

| {{coord|52.0574|N|2.1426|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Strensham services (southbound)}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|39.7

|63.9

| Entering Worcestershire

|rowspan=2| J8

| South Wales, Ross M50

|rowspan=2| {{coord|52.0478|N|2.1356|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 8}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|40.0

|64.4

| South Wales, Ross M50

| Entering Gloucestershire

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Entering Gloucestershire

| rowspan=2 |

| River Avon

|rowspan=2| {{coord|52.0307|N|2.1255|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, River Avon}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| River Avon

| Entering Worcestershire

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Entering Worcestershire

|

| Entering Gloucestershire

| {{coord|52.0113|N|2.1211|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|43.4
43.9

|69.8
70.6

| Tewkesbury A438, Evesham A46

|J9

| Evesham A46, Tewkesbury A438

| {{coord|51.9965|N|2.1237|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 8}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|48.3
48.5

|77.7
78.0

|{{no2}} No access (on-slip only)

|J10

| Cheltenham A4019

| {{coord|51.9290|N|2.1400|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 10}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|51.0
51.4

|82.1
82.8

| Gloucester (North & East), Cheltenham A40

|J11

| Cheltenham, Gloucester (North & East), Staverton {{rail-interchange|air}} A40

| {{coord|51.8897|N|2.1514|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 11}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|53.4
54.0

|85.9
86.9

| Gloucester (West), Cirencester A417

|J11A

| Gloucester (West), London, Swindon, Cirencester A417

| {{coord|51.8578|N|2.1735|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 11A}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

|Gloucester services

| Services

|Gloucester services

| {{coord|51.8621|N|2.1667|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=Gloucestershire gateway services}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|60.2
60.5

|96.9
97.4

| Gloucester (Central & South) (A38)

|J12

| Gloucester (Central & South) (A38)

| {{coord|51.7982|N|2.2889|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 12}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|63.3
63.7

|101.8
102.5

| Stroud A419

|J13

| Stroud, Dursley A419

| {{coord|51.7598|N|2.3227|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 13}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|71.9

|115.7

|Michaelwood services

| Services

|Michaelwood services

| {{coord|51.6567|N|2.4292|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Michaelwood services}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Entering Gloucestershire

|

| Entering South Gloucestershire

|- style="text-align:center;"

|73.6
73.9

|118.4
119.0

| Dursley B4509

|J14

| Thornbury B4509

| {{coord|51.6368|N|2.4521|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 14}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|rowspan=2| J15

Almondsbury Interchange

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

|rowspan=2| {{coord|51.5514|N|2.5524|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 15}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|81.1
81.7

|130.5
131.5

| South Wales, Chepstow, Newport, Cardiff (M48) M4(W)
London, Swindon, Bath, Bristol (C) M4(E)

| London, Swindon, Bath, Bristol (C) (M32) M4(E)
South Wales, Chepstow, Newport, Cardiff (M48) M4(W)

|- style="text-align:center;"

|82.0
82.3

|132.0
132.5

| Thornbury, Filton A38

|J16

| Thornbury, Filton A38

| {{coord|51.5472|N|2.5684|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 16}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|84.2
84.6

|135.5
136.2

| Bristol (W), Cribbs Causeway A4018

|rowspan=2| J17

| Bristol (W), Cribbs Causeway A4018

|rowspan=2| {{coord|51.5286|N|2.6102|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 17}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Entering South Gloucestershire

|

| Entering Bristol

| {{coord|51.5130|N|2.6521|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|87.4
87.7

|140.6
141.2

| South Wales, Cardiff, Newport M49 (M4(W))

|J18A

|{{no2}} No access (on-slip only)

| {{coord|51.5021|N|2.6740|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 18A}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|88.0
88.2

| 141.6
142.0

| Bristol, Bristol {{rail-interchange|air}}, Shirehampton, Avonmouth, Docks A4, Aust (A403)

|J18

| Avonmouth, Bristol (West), Bristol {{rail-interchange|air}} A4

| {{coord|51.5026|N|2.6728|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 18}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2 |

| rowspan=2 |

| Entering Bristol

| rowspan=2 |

| Avonmouth Bridge

| rowspan=2 | {{coord|51.4890|N|2.6928|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Avonmouth Bridge}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Avonmouth Bridge

| Entering Somerset

|- style="text-align:center;"

|90.1

|145.0

| Clifton (Toll), Portishead, Royal Portbury Dock A369
Gordano services

|J19
Services

| Portishead, Royal Portbury Dock A369
Gordano services

| {{coord|51.4774|N|2.7117|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 19}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|96.7

|155.6

| Clevedon, Nailsea B3133

|J20

| Clevedon, Nailsea B3133

| {{coord|51.4322|N|2.8387|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 20}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| colspan=3 | Blind Yeo

| {{coord|51.4263|N|2.8435|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Blind Yeo}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|102.3

|164.6

| Weston-super-Mare, Bristol (South) A370

|J21

| Weston-super-Mare A370

| {{coord|51.3589|N|2.8936|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 21}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| colspan=3 | River Axe

| {{coord|51.2907|N|2.8974|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, River Axe}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|109.1

|175.6

|Sedgemoor services

|Services

|Sedgemoor services

| {{coord|51.2689|N|2.9214|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Sedgemoor services}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|111.7

|179.8

| Weston-super-Mare, Burnham-on-Sea, Bristol (South), Bristol {{rail-interchange|air}}, A38

|J22

| Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea A38

| {{coord|51.2360|N|2.9467|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 22}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| colspan=3 | River Brue

| {{coord|51.2136|N|2.9629|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, River Brue}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| colspan=3 | Huntspill River

| {{coord|51.1941|N|2.9708|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Huntspill River}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|116.9

|188.1

| Highbridge (A38), Glastonbury, Wells A39

|J23

| Bridgwater (A38), Minehead, Glastonbury, Wells A39

| {{coord|51.1670|N|2.9809|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 23}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| colspan=3 | King's Sedgemoor Drain

| {{coord|51.1639|N|2.9814|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, King's Sedgemoor Drain}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| colspan=3 | River Parrett

| {{coord|51.1150|N|2.9793|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, River Parrett}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|121.8
122.0

|196.0
196.3

| Bridgwater, Minehead A38
Bridgwater services

|J24
Services

| Minehead (A39)
Bridgwater services

| {{coord|51.1019|N|2.9940|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 24}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| colspan=3 | River Tone

| {{coord|51.0230|N|3.0578|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, River Tone}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|128.4
128.6

|206.7
206.9

| Taunton, Yeovil A358

|J25

| Taunton, Honiton, Yeovil, Weymouth A358

| {{coord|51.0178|N|3.0636|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 25}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|133.3

|214.5

|Taunton Deane services

|Services

|Taunton Deane services

| {{coord|50.9769|N|3.1468|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Taunton Deane services}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|135.3
135.5

|217.8
218.0

| Wellington, Taunton A38

|J26

| Wellington A38

| {{coord|50.9730|N|3.1914|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 26}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|

|

| Entering Somerset

|

| Entering Devon

| {{coord|50.9495|N|3.2737|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|143.4
143.7

|230.7
231.3

| Barnstaple, Tiverton A361, Wellington A38

|J27

| Tiverton, Barnstaple A361

| {{coord|50.9177|N|3.3566|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 27}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|147.6
147.9

|237.5
238.0

| Cullompton B3181
Cullompton services

|J28
Services

|Honiton A373, Cullompton B3181

| {{coord|50.8609|N|3.3838|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 28}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|157.7
158.1

|253.8
254.4

| Honiton, Exeter {{rail-interchange|air}} A30

|J29

| Honiton A30 (East), Exeter {{rail-interchange|air}}

| {{coord|50.7288|N|3.4624|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 29}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|158.9
159.3

|255.7
256.3

| Exeter A379, Exmouth A376, Sidmouth (A3052)
Exeter services

|J30
Services

| Dawlish, Exeter A379, Sidmouth, Exmouth A376
Exeter services

| {{coord|50.7124|N|3.4638|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 30}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|162.4
162.6

|261.4
261.7

| Start of motorway x20px

|rowspan=2| J31

| Truro, Bodmin, Okehampton A30

| {{coord|50.6801|N|3.5166|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5, Junction 31}}

|- style="text-align:center;"

|162.7

| 261.8

| Okehampton A30 (West), Exeter (A377)
Non-motorway traffic

| End of motorway x20px
Road continues as A38 towards Plymouth, Torquay

| {{coord|50.6780|N|3.5228|W|dim:8000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M5 transition to A380}}

{{jctbtm|key=Junction information gathered from Advanced Direction Signs March to June 2011 (J4A – J31), all updated as of August 2020. Coordinates from Google Maps, taken at the approximate centre of the junction}}

{{GeoGroup|section=Junctions}}

M5#1 is a song from the 1994 album Middle Class Revolt by post-punk band The Fall which uses the M5 to describe reverting to a romanticised agricultural past that never really existed.{{cite news |url = http://annotatedfall.doomby.com/pages/the-annotated-lyrics/m5-1.html| title = The Annotated Fall - M5 #1 | access-date = 9 December 2019 | work = The Annotated Fall | date = 17 November 2019}}

{{Wikinews|M5 motorway closed after shots fired at police car}}

• List of motorways in the United Kingdom

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Charlesworth |first=George |year=1984 |title=A History of British Motorways |location=London |publisher=Thomas Telford |isbn=0-7277-0159-2}}

• {{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Mike|title= The M5 Sights Guide|year=2003|publisher=Severnpix|isbn=978-0954540203}}

{{OSM relation|12128005|M5 motorway|link=yes}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130425100514/http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/cmpg/ Central Motorway Police Group]
• [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m5/ CBRD Motorway Database – M5]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061009150701/http://www.cbrd.co.uk/media/video/m5.shtml CBRD videos – M5]
• [http://euclid.colorado.edu/~rmg/roads/m5.html Major roads of Great Britain – M5]
• The Motorway Archive
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080126114511/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m5m6midlink.htm Junctions 1 to 2 and other Midlands motorways]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090217185850/http://iht.org/motorway/m5brisbirm.htm Junctions 3 to 8]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219135000/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m5widening.htm Junctions 3 to 8 widening]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090309061339/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m5twedscheme.htm Junctions 8 to 22]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070316122427/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m5edwischeme.htm Junctions 22 to 31]

{{geoGroup}}

{{UK motorways}}

{{Motorways and Trunk Roads in England|state=collapsed}}

{{Streets in Birmingham}}

{{Transport in Bristol}}

{{Transport in Worcestershire}}

{{Transport in Gloucestershire}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:5-0005M}}

Category:Motorways in England

Category:Transport in Gloucestershire

Category:Roads in Somerset

Category:Transport in Staffordshire

Category:Roads in the West Midlands (county)

Category:Roads in Worcestershire

Category:Transport in Exeter

Category:Roads in Bristol

Category:Roads in Devon