The Highways Agency is preparing to start work on a £3.4 million scheme to renew 750 metres of the eastbound carriageway of the M50 between junctions 1 and 2 near Tewkesbury.

New parapets will be provided for the viaduct over the River Severn to replace existing barriers and the carriageway surface will be replaced.

This five-month long scheme, starting early this month 2009, is essential to upgrade the existing safety barriers and strengthen the elevated roadway while replacing the waterproofing and bridge joints of Queenhill Viaduct to bring the structure up to current standards.

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New parapets will improve capability of containing any errant vehicles that could otherwise leave this elevated section of carriageway. New long-life bridge expansion joints, waterproofing and resurfacing will further extend the life of the carriageway to minimise unplanned maintenance and closures.

Roadworkers will be on site 10 hours per day for at least five days per week, with occasional night time and weekend working, in order to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible, while limiting delays to road users.

There will be a full closure of the eastbound carriageway, the traffic being diverted onto the westbound carriageway with a contraflow, or one lane traffic running in both directions.

It is planned to completely close the M50 between junctions 1 and 2 overnight from 4 - 5 September in order to install all the safety measures necessary to protect road users and roadworkers during operation of the contraflow. A similar overnight closure will be necessary in December 2009 to remove the contraflow and re-open the new refurbished carriageway and viaduct.

(CD/BMcC)