Drivers warned over 600-tonne load on M5
Getty ImagesDrivers have been warned to expect delays when 600-tonne abnormal loads travelling at 12mph are transported along a motorway.
Police will be escorting a huge manufacturing press and a number of related components from Sharpness Docks on the banks of the River Severn to Brockworth on the outskirts of Gloucester.
Starting on Tuesdayevening, vehicles are scheduled to leave the site at Sharpness and travel on a number of major roads as well as joining the M5 at junction 14 for Falfield.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police urged drivers to avoid the route at key times, warning of "severe delays" on the the M5 northbound and the A417.
The move had originally been scheduled for 27 March, but was delayed.
The vehicles will now be on the roads on the following dates:
- Tuesday 7 April
- Wednesday 8 April
- Thursday 9 April
- Wednesday 15 April
- Thursday 16 April
What route will it take?
The vehicles will leave the site in Sharpness at about 18:00 BST and travel along two unclassified roads.
They will then take the B4066, A38, B4509 and join the M5 at junction 14 for Falfield.
The vehicles involved will use a contraflow system to join the M5 via the junction 14 northbound exit slip road, instead of the entry slip road and then exit at the M5 junction 11A north, onto the A417 via the entry slip road.
The loads will then travel along the A417 to the B4641, along Delta Way and Hurricane Road before arriving at the destination.
Drivers urged to avoid route
Police have warned drivers to avoid major roads at key times, with severe delays expected as the vehicles are limited to just 12mph.
As well as heavy delays due to the speed of the vehicles, further queues will be caused as the northbound carriageway of the M5 and the A417 are temporarily closed entirely to allow safe entry and exit.
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