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Motorists have been told to anticipate major delays on one of Wales' most congested stretches of motorway this weekend, as a substantial stretch of the M4 will be entirely shut to vehicles. Engineering work for a new bridge will commence on the M4 from Friday night. National Highways has announced the M4 carriageway north of Bristol will be sealed in both directions between Junction 18 (Bath) and Junction 19 (M32) from 7pm on Friday, October 24 until 6am on Monday, October 27. The shutdown will enable eight massive steel girders to be hoisted into position for the new A432 Badminton Road Bridge, representing a significant landmark in the continuing infrastructure scheme. The girders will be positioned in pairs of two throughout the weekend, utilising specialised equipment. Route manager for National Highways, Sean Walsh, said: "The beam lift is a huge milestone in the construction of the new bridge, but we appreciate that any road closures can be frustrating for people. "We need to fully close the M4 because we're using specialist machinery and it's vital that we keep those doing the work and motorists safe. "Once complete, the new bridge will help reconnect drivers, businesses and the local communities that have been impacted by the closure." For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here. The M4 represents one of the most heavily trafficked routes in Wales and the West of England, with up to 4,000 vehicles travelling this section every hour during busy weekend periods. The closure is anticipated to cause significant delays, with motorists strongly urged to avoid the area if possible, plan alternative routes, or travel during off-peak hours. The new bridge, measuring 46.5 metres in length and 20 metres in width, will span all eight lanes of the M4. It's being built slightly wider than its predecessor to meet contemporary safety standards, including broader pavements and taller protective barriers for pedestrians and cyclists. Once this weekend's beam installation is finished, the remaining bridge works are expected to cause minimal disruption to the motorway. The bridge is set to open to the public in early 2026. A signed diversion will be operational throughout the closure period. Westbound traffic will be directed to leave the M4 at Junction 18 and join the A46 towards Bath. At the A46/A420 junction just beyond Pennsylvania, drivers should take the A420 towards Warmley, then follow the A4174 towards the M32 at the A420/A4174 junction. From there, vehicles will join the M32 at Junction 1 and continue to M4 Junction 19. Eastbound traffic will follow the same route in reverse. In response to the closure, National Express confirmed that their services will still be running, however certain stops including in Cardiff and Chepstow will be suspended until Monday. The full statement from the company, reads: "National Express will continue to operate services along diverted routes during this weekend's closure of the M4 between junctions 18 and 19. "The following stops will be suspended until 06:00 on Monday, 27 October: Cardiff (Gabalfa), Cardiff University , Cardiff Gate Business Park, University of West England, Bridgwater (504 service only), Chepstow, and Reading Mereoak PandR (504 and 508 service only). Live service updates are available here. "Delays are expected and customers are advised to allow plenty of time for their journey, particularly if travelling to an airport. Customers who are affected by this diversion have been contacted to offer a free amendment to their ticket should they wish to change their travel plans." National Highways expressed gratitude to motorists for their patience and confirmed the engineering works would enhance long-term safety and reliability for all route users.
