Roadworks and lane closures

M5

3 closures6 booked

3 closures in force on the M5 right now. National Highways has 6 closures booked in the next 24 hours, the first due from 8pm, so it may already be in place. Its slowest recurring hour is Fri 14:00, averaging 27 mph.

Photo: Roy Hughes, Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized

Closed right now

Closure data updated 34 minutes ago2026-10-22T00:38:06.184Z

Lane 3/2 closure leading to hardshoulder running

2 lanes

M5 northbound between J23 and J22 and 11 more sections

21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026 · 1 lane closed, Roadworks · 2 separate phases

M4 westbound Jct 20 exit slip road to M5 northbound Jct 15 - carriageway closed

link road from M4 westbound J20 to M5 J15 northbound and 4 more sections

11 Oct 2026 to 5 Dec 2026 · Maintenance work

M5 southbound Jct 3 to Jct 4a carriageway closure

M5 southbound between J3 and J4 and 2 more sections

21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026 · Road fully closed, Roadworks

Booked for today and tonight

Next 24 hours, UK time

UK time. Dark bar: the road is fully closed, so expect a diversion. Lighter bar: lanes or a slip road closed, the road stays open.

M5 Both Directions Jct 9 to Jct 15 mobile lane closures

Due now

M5 northbound between J15 and J14

What: 1 lane closed
Why: Road sweeping
When: 8pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place
Also: Moving works (the closure travels along the road) · Both directions

M5 Both Directions Jct 9 to Jct 20 mobile lane closures

Due now

M5 northbound between J15 and J14

What: 1 lane closed
Why: Road sweeping
When: 8pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place
Also: Moving works (the closure travels along the road) · Both directions

M5 Northbound Jct 31 to 30 lane 1, 2 closure 259/6b - 256/8b

Due now

M5 northbound between J31 and J30

What: 2 lanes closed
Why: Construction work
When: 8pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place

M5 Both Directions Jct 9 to Jct 15 mobile lane closures

Booked

M5 northbound within J15

What: 1 lane closed
Why: Road sweeping
When: 8pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)
Also: Moving works (the closure travels along the road) · Both directions

M5 Northbound Jct 31 to 30 lane 1, 2 closure 259/6b - 256/8b

Booked

M5 northbound between J31 and J30

What: 2 lanes closed
Why: Construction work
When: 8pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

M5 northbound Western Arm northbound to M6 link road closure

Booked

M5 northbound between J1 and M6

What: Link road closed
Why: Roadworks
When: 9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

These are closures National Highways has scheduled, mostly overnight. Plans can change on the night, and a closure only shows above as in force once our last check has seen it set up, so one that has passed its start time may already be in place.

Long-running roadworks on the M5

Lasting a week or more, soonest to end first

M5 Northbound Jct 31 to 30 - 24hr hardshoulder closure 258/7b - 257/0b

scheduled

M5 northbound between J31 and J30

Due to end: 26 Oct 2026
Started: 14 Sept 2026
What: 1 lane closed, Construction work

M4 westbound Jct 20 exit slip road to M5 northbound Jct 15 - carriageway closed

in force

link road from M4 westbound J20 to M5 J15 northbound

Due to end: 5 Dec 2026
Started: 11 Oct 2026
What: Maintenance work

24/7 hard shoulder closure

paused

M5 northbound between J11 and J10

Due to end: 10 Dec 2026
Started: 12 Oct 2026
What: 1 lane closed, Maintenance work

End dates are National Highways’ own schedule and can move. Long-running roadworks on every road.

When the M5 is slowest

1 May 2026 to 15 June 2026

Fri 14:0027mph

57% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 3,826 vehicles an hour

Measured about 900 m from junction 16, Almondsbury Roundabout, in South Gloucestershire

Fri 15:0032mph

53% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 2,681 vehicles an hour

Measured about 300 m from junction 7, Crookbarrow Interchange, in Wychavon

Fri 13:0030mph

51% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 4,300 vehicles an hour

Measured about 900 m from junction 16, Almondsbury Roundabout, in South Gloucestershire

Fri 16:0034mph

51% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 2,805 vehicles an hour

Measured about 300 m from junction 7, Crookbarrow Interchange, in Wychavon

Fri 17:0039mph

43% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 2,912 vehicles an hour

Measured about 300 m from junction 7, Crookbarrow Interchange, in Wychavon

Thu 08:0036mph

42% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 4,490 vehicles an hour

Measured about 700 m from junction 1, West Bromwich Interchange, in Sandwell

Each hour is compared with that sensor’s own free-flow speed rather than the speed limit, because some sensors sit on bends and slip roads that never reach 70 mph. Quiet hours carrying under 600 vehicles are left out, so overnight roadworks are not mistaken for congestion.

Which direction is worse

Averaged along the whole road

NorthboundWorst at Fri 15:0047 mph

SouthboundWorst at Fri 14:0050 mph

Rush hour is rarely symmetrical. The commute in and the commute out peak at different times, and rarely as badly as each other. These speeds are averaged across every sensor facing that way, so they read higher than the worst-point figures above: most of the road is moving even when one junction is not.

Every hour of the week

Darker means slower

Average speed on the M5 for each hour of the week, shaded by how far below normal it runs.
Day	00	1	2	3	4	5	06	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
Mon	Mon 00:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Mon 01:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Mon 02:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Mon 03:00, 60 mph, 4% below normal	Mon 04:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Mon 05:00, 62 mph, 1% below normal	Mon 06:00, 62 mph, 3% below normal	Mon 07:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 08:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 09:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 10:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 11:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Mon 12:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Mon 13:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 14:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 15:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Mon 16:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 17:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Mon 18:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Mon 19:00, 63 mph, 0% below normal	Mon 20:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal	Mon 21:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Mon 22:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Mon 23:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal
Tue	Tue 00:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 01:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Tue 02:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Tue 03:00, 58 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 04:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Tue 05:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Tue 06:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Tue 07:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Tue 08:00, 56 mph, 12% below normal	Tue 09:00, 56 mph, 11% below normal	Tue 10:00, 58 mph, 9% below normal	Tue 11:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 12:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 13:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Tue 14:00, 56 mph, 11% below normal	Tue 15:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Tue 16:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Tue 17:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Tue 18:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 19:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal	Tue 20:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal	Tue 21:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Tue 22:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Tue 23:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal
Wed	Wed 00:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Wed 01:00, 58 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 02:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 03:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Wed 04:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Wed 05:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Wed 06:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Wed 07:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 08:00, 55 mph, 13% below normal	Wed 09:00, 56 mph, 11% below normal	Wed 10:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Wed 11:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Wed 12:00, 58 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 13:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Wed 14:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Wed 15:00, 58 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 16:00, 56 mph, 12% below normal	Wed 17:00, 56 mph, 12% below normal	Wed 18:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Wed 19:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Wed 20:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Wed 21:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Wed 22:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Wed 23:00, 60 mph, 6% below normal
Thu	Thu 00:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 01:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Thu 02:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Thu 03:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Thu 04:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Thu 05:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Thu 06:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Thu 07:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Thu 08:00, 56 mph, 12% below normal	Thu 09:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Thu 10:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 11:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 12:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 13:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 14:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Thu 15:00, 56 mph, 11% below normal	Thu 16:00, 55 mph, 13% below normal	Thu 17:00, 56 mph, 12% below normal	Thu 18:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 19:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Thu 20:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal	Thu 21:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Thu 22:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Thu 23:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal
Fri	Fri 00:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Fri 01:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Fri 02:00, 57 mph, 10% below normal	Fri 03:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Fri 04:00, 60 mph, 6% below normal	Fri 05:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Fri 06:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Fri 07:00, 59 mph, 6% below normal	Fri 08:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Fri 09:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Fri 10:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Fri 11:00, 55 mph, 13% below normal	Fri 12:00, 53 mph, 16% below normal	Fri 13:00, 50 mph, 21% below normal	Fri 14:00, 49 mph, 22% below normal	Fri 15:00, 51 mph, 20% below normal	Fri 16:00, 52 mph, 18% below normal	Fri 17:00, 54 mph, 14% below normal	Fri 18:00, 57 mph, 9% below normal	Fri 19:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Fri 20:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Fri 21:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Fri 22:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Fri 23:00, 60 mph, 4% below normal
Sat	Sat 00:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Sat 01:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Sat 02:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Sat 03:00, 59 mph, 6% below normal	Sat 04:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Sat 05:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Sat 06:00, 64 mph, -1% below normal	Sat 07:00, 63 mph, 0% below normal	Sat 08:00, 62 mph, 1% below normal	Sat 09:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Sat 10:00, 59 mph, 7% below normal	Sat 11:00, 58 mph, 9% below normal	Sat 12:00, 58 mph, 8% below normal	Sat 13:00, 59 mph, 6% below normal	Sat 14:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Sat 15:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Sat 16:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Sat 17:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Sat 18:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Sat 19:00, 63 mph, 0% below normal	Sat 20:00, 64 mph, -1% below normal	Sat 21:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal	Sat 22:00, 62 mph, 1% below normal	Sat 23:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal
Sun	Sun 00:00, 62 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 01:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Sun 02:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Sun 03:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 04:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 05:00, 62 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 06:00, 64 mph, -1% below normal	Sun 07:00, 64 mph, -2% below normal	Sun 08:00, 64 mph, -1% below normal	Sun 09:00, 63 mph, 0% below normal	Sun 10:00, 62 mph, 2% below normal	Sun 11:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Sun 12:00, 60 mph, 6% below normal	Sun 13:00, 60 mph, 6% below normal	Sun 14:00, 60 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 15:00, 61 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 16:00, 60 mph, 5% below normal	Sun 17:00, 61 mph, 3% below normal	Sun 18:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 19:00, 64 mph, -1% below normal	Sun 20:00, 64 mph, -1% below normal	Sun 21:00, 62 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 22:00, 62 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 23:00, 63 mph, 1% below normal

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When is the best time to drive the M5?

Roads that meet the M5

Their roadworks and closures

Questions about the M5

Is the M5 closed right now?

3 closures were in force at our last check of the National Highways feed (1:38am today, UK time): Lane 3/2 closure leading to hardshoulder running; M4 westbound Jct 20 exit slip road to M5 northbound Jct 15 - carriageway closed; and M5 southbound Jct 3 to Jct 4a carriageway closure. This covers planned roadworks and lane closures, not accidents.

Is the M5 closed tonight?

National Highways has 6 closures booked on the M5 in the next 24 hours, the first due from 8pm, so it may already be in place: M5 Both Directions Jct 9 to Jct 15 mobile lane closures; M5 Both Directions Jct 9 to Jct 20 mobile lane closures; and M5 Northbound Jct 31 to 30 lane 1, 2 closure 259/6b - 256/8b, plus 3 more. Plans can change on the night.

When will the roadworks on the M5 finish?

3 schemes lasting a week or more are listed. The first due to end is M5 Northbound Jct 31 to 30 - 24hr hardshoulder closure 258/7b - 257/0b (26 Oct 2026); the last is 24/7 hard shoulder closure (10 Dec 2026). End dates are National Highways’ own schedule and can move.