Drivers in the West Midlands face significant disruption tonight as National Highways carries out essential maintenance on the M5. The northbound carriageway between Junction 4 (Lydiate Ash Interchange) and Junction 3 (Quinton Interchange) will close from 9pm on Wednesday, July 29, until 6am on Thursday, July 30. This nine-hour closure is scheduled to minimise daytime traffic impact.
Link Roads to M6 Also Affected
Further north at Junction 1 (West Bromwich), the link roads connecting the M5 to the M6 will also shut during the same period. Both the eastern arm north and the western arm north will close from 9pm tonight until 6am tomorrow. These closures are expected to cause delays for traffic merging onto the M6, particularly near Junction 8.
Details of the Closures
- M5 northbound: Carriageway closure from Junction 4 to Junction 3 (9pm Wednesday – 6am Thursday).
- M5 northbound to M6 eastbound (eastern arm north): Carriageway closure from Junction 1 to M6 Junction 8 (9pm Wednesday – 6am Thursday).
- M5 northbound to M6 westbound (western arm north): Carriageway closure from Junction 1 to M6 Junction 8 (9pm Wednesday – 6am Thursday).
National Highways, the agency responsible for motorway maintenance, advises motorists to plan alternative routes or allow extra travel time. Diversions will be signposted, but local roads may experience increased congestion.
Impact on Commuters
The overnight timing aims to reduce disruption, but drivers using the M5 late evening or early morning should expect delays. The closures affect a key corridor linking Birmingham, the Black Country, and the M6. Nearby junctions such as 2 (Oldbury) and 3 (Quinton) may see traffic diverted onto A roads. National Highways recommends checking live traffic updates before setting off.
