Motorists advised to expect travel delays as abnormal load escorts take place

Motorists are advised to expect travel delays whilst police escort a series of abnormal loads through the county over the coming days.

A manufacturing press and various related components, with gross weights exceeding 600 tonnes, are due to travel from Sharpness Docks to Brockworth on the following evenings:

• Tuesday 7 April
• Wednesday 8 April
• Thursday 9 April
• Wednesday 15 April
• Thursday 16 April

The movements, which will begin at around 6pm on each day, will see the vehicles leave a site in Sharpness before travelling along two unclassified roads, the B4066, A38, B4509 and joining 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.

Traffic will be held whilst the loads join and exit the M5/join and exit the A417.

The loads will then travel along the A417 to the B4641, along Delta Way and Hurricane Road before arriving at the destination.

Due to the size and weight of the loads, the transporting vehicles will be limited to travelling at 12 miles per hour and sections of roads will need to be closed whilst the vehicles are manoeuvred and Highways staff remove road furniture.

Officers would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience these movements may cause and ask that motorists avoid this route, at the relevant times if possible, as severe delays are expected, particularly on the M5 northbound and the A417.

Rough estimates for each stage of the movement:

• 6pm: depart Sharpness
• 8pm: arrive at M5 junction 14
• 10pm: arrive at M5 junction 11A
• 11pm: arrive at the destination in Brockworth