A crucial route for thousands of drivers every day is set to open within weeks after the previous bridge was demolished due to serious structural and safety fears.
National Highways has confirmed that the A432 Badminton Road bridge over the M4 is set to open in June for the first time.
The multi-million-pound bridge will open to non-motorised users, like pedestrians and cyclists, from the afternoon of Friday, June 19.
Traffic management measures will be removed overnight to allow all vehicles to use the bridge from 7am on Saturday, June 20.
The A432 Badminton Road bridge was first closed in July 2023, after investigations revealed damage to the bridge which could not be repaired long-term or in a cost-effective manner.
Preparation work launched in May 2024 when it was closed to motor traffic, but remained open for pedestrians and cyclists until it was demolished in March last year.
National Highways outlined that the bridge required specialist working platforms, known as piling pads, to create a stable base for the infrastructure.
Sean Walsh, route manager for National Highways, thanked people in South Gloucestershire for their patience while the work was taking place.
The new A432 Badminton Road bridge over the M4 will open in June
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
He added: "We're delighted to say that we'll be opening the new and improved bridge this June, much faster than usual for a project of this size.
"Since we announced the old bridge needed to be demolished, the team have worked incredibly hard to deliver this project in just two and a half years, half of the five years it would normally take.
"This new bridge will make a significant and positive difference to the journeys of visitors, local communities, and businesses."
While the bridge will be opened in the coming months, some closures of the M4 will be required in May and June to complete construction work.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The old A432 Badminton Road bridge was demolished in 2025 after serious damage was found
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
This will include:
- May 5-9: The M4 will be closed in both directions overnight (8pm-6am) between junctions 18 and 19
- June 1-6: The M4 will be closed in both directions overnight (8pm-6am) between junctions 18 and 19
- June 8-13: There will be lane closures on the M4 in both directions between junctions 18 and 19 to finish work on the embankments by the bridge
National Highways has encouraged motorists to plan their journeys ahead of time and, if possible, avoid the area to escape any long delays.
An artist's rendition of the A432 Badminton Road bridge over the M4
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The transport organisation estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 vehicles use the M4 between J18 (Bath) and J19 (M32) every hour during peak weekend periods.
Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Councillor Maggie Tyrrell and Co-Leader, Councillor Ian Boulton, praised the opening of the new A432 M4 overbridge, describing it as a "huge relief".
They added: "It is important to recognise the scale of what has been achieved. The decision to demolish and rebuild the bridge was unplanned, and every aspect of this project - from design through to delivery - had to be developed from a standing start and a blank page.
"That work has taken place alongside the challenge of managing disruption on one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the region."