ESSENTIAL work to upgrade the central reservation lighting on the M4 motorway near Bristol will start tomorrow.

The programme of work will start with a series of 10 overnight full westbound carriageway closures between junctions 19 and 20, Monday to Friday only, running until Friday, January 20.

The westbound carriageway will be closed between 9pm and 6am on Mondays and Thursdays and from 10pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

A further five nights of overnight closures will be implemented between Monday, February 13 and Friday, February 17. Two lanes will remain open on the eastbound carriageway throughout these periods.

The original lighting had reached the end of its serviceable life and new energy and economy-efficient LED lanterns will be installed between junctions 19 and 20 of the smart motorway section.

The new lighting will make use of LED technology with central management capability, meaning the lights can be remotely monitored and dynamically controlled. The lights will also be easier to maintain in the longer term, and they’ll use less energy than traditional lighting. 

Highways England asset delivery manager Julian Strong said: “We periodically renew our lighting systems when they reach end of life and LED lights are generally used as they’re cheaper to run and are better for the environment.

“The work is being carried out overnight to keep disruption to a minimum and we are also aiming to minimise the impact of the work on the local community alongside this stretch of the M4.”

Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place during the overnight westbound closures. Traffic will be diverted off the M4 at junction 19, and follow a diversion route joining the M5 at junction 16.

Traffic wishing to continue on the M4 can do so by heading northbound and rejoining at Almondsbury.