Drivers using the M5 near Bridgwater are being warned to expect weeks of disruption as sections of the motorway partially close so cables can be laid for Britain’s biggest electric battery plant.
The works, between Junction 23 at Bridgwater (Dunball) and Junction 24 at Huntworth (Sedgemoor), are needed to connect a substation off Westonzoyland Road to the Agratas site at the Gravity campus. Developer Agratas says the programme is scheduled to take 15 days.
Closures begin on Monday (October 5th) as crews start digging trenches along the route. Overnight, between 8pm and 6am, both sides of the motorway will shut.
During the day, two lanes will close on one side, with the remaining lanes running at 50mph. Agratas says the opposite carriageway will stay fully open for most of the job.
On two days, when the works have to cross the central reservation, two lanes on both sides of the M5 will shut. There will also be one night when a full closure of the motorway is needed. A date for that closure has not yet been confirmed.
Motorists heading travelling along the M5 from Burnham-On-Sea’s junction 22 are likely to feel the knock-on effects.
Agratas says land ownership issues, and the risk of more and longer-lasting disruption, meant laying the cabling under the motorway was the best option.
A spokesperson for the firm said: “The route was selected following a detailed evaluation by specialist contractors, with a number of options considered for connecting the substation off Westonzoyland Road to the Gravity site.”
“The assessment considered a range of factors, including the potential impact on neighbouring communities, land ownership and ground conditions.”
They added: “We recognise the temporary disruption these works will cause and thank motorists and local communities for their patience.”
The power link is described as vital infrastructure for the plant, which Agratas says will put Somerset at the forefront of UK battery cell production, create thousands of jobs for local people and deliver significant economic benefits for Somerset and the wider South West.
Up to 2,900 workers are expected on the site near Bridgwater this autumn. The company says the first building is nearly watertight and internal fit-out can now get under way.
