M4 Closure Between Bath And M32: Drivers Warned Of Delays And Diversions This Weekend

Published on October 23, 2025

Drivers successful nan UK are facing imaginable delays and diversions this play arsenic National Highways closes a engaged agelong of nan M4 motorway to let for nan installation of nan caller A432 Badminton Road Bridge. The closure, which will impact some directions of nan M4 betwixt junctions 18 (Bath) and 19 (M32), will beryllium successful spot from 7:00 PM BST connected Friday, October 24, until 6:00 AM GMT connected Monday, October 27.

This closure marks a important milestone successful nan ongoing building work, pinch National Highways moving to instal 8 monolithic alloy beams arsenic portion of nan caller bridge. The A432 Badminton Road Bridge, primitively built successful 1966, was demolished earlier this twelvemonth aft structural cracks were found. The motorway closure is basal to let these important building elements to beryllium installed, pinch nan task expected to beryllium completed by early 2026.

Why is nan M4 Closure Necessary?

The closure is being carried retired to facilitate nan installation of cardinal infrastructure for nan caller bridge, which is expected to amended postulation travel and information successful nan area erstwhile completed. The motorway serves arsenic a awesome way for thousands of vehicles each day, peculiarly during nan engaged play periods. National Highways is expecting important disruption owed to nan precocious measurement of postulation utilizing this conception of nan motorway.

Each hr during highest periods, betwixt 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles walk done this agelong of nan M4, starring to important postulation congestion during nan closure. The motorway closure is simply a captious measurement successful nan wide span construction, which has already seen nan demolition of nan aged span earlier this year. Once completed, nan caller span will supply safer and much businesslike connectivity, benefiting some section commuters and long-distance travelers.

Key Points for Drivers:

• M4 Closure: From 7:00 PM BST connected Friday, October 24, to 6:00 AM GMT connected Monday, October 27.
• Affected Area: M4 betwixt junctions 18 (Bath) and 19 (M32).
• Diversions: Alternative routes will beryllium successful spot to minimize disruption, but drivers are powerfully encouraged to scheme ahead.

What Are nan Diversion Routes?

National Highways has put diversions successful spot to negociate nan postulation travel during nan closure. Westbound traffic, which is typically directed from junction 18 (Bath), will beryllium diverted via respective cardinal routes. Drivers will first exit nan M4 astatine junction 18, past travel nan A46 towards Bath. After passing nan A46/A420 junction adjacent Pennsylvania, drivers will proceed connected nan A420 towards Warmley. At nan A420/A4174 junction successful Warmley, vehicles will return nan A4174 towards nan M32, joining nan M32 astatine junction 1 and proceeding to nan M4 junction 19.

For eastbound traffic, nan diversions will travel nan reverse route, ensuring that each vehicles tin still entree their destinations contempt nan M4 closure.

Diversion Routes:

• Westbound Diversion:
  1. Exit M4 junction 18 to A46 towards Bath.
  2. Continue connected A46/A420 towards Warmley.
  3. Follow A4174 to M32 junction 1, past caput towards M4 junction 19.
• Eastbound Diversion:
  1. Follow nan reverse way from nan M4 junction 19 to M4 junction 18 via M32 and A4174.

Impact connected Business and Tourism Travel

The M4 is simply a cardinal way for business and leisure travel, connecting travelers to cities for illustration Bristol, Cardiff, and London. For business travelers, this closure whitethorn origin delays, particularly for those relying connected nan M4 for timely entree to meetings aliases appointments successful these cities. Delivery trucks and carrier logistics whitethorn besides beryllium affected, perchance starring to delays successful merchandise shipments and proviso chains.

For visitors walking to Bath aliases nan surrounding areas, nan closure whitethorn origin immoderate inconvenience, peculiarly for those relying connected nan M4 to sojourn section attractions aliases link to different regions. However, nan closure presents an opportunity for visitors to research replacement routes and possibly observe less-traveled scenic areas.

Business and Tourist Travel Impacts:

• Business Travel: Potential delays for business meetings and transportation trucks, particularly betwixt 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM BST erstwhile postulation peaks.
• Tourism: Visitors to Bath and different attractions adjacent nan M4 whitethorn look longer recreation times owed to diversions. Tourists are encouraged to cheque replacement routes and recreation astatine off-peak times.

Quick Travel Tips for Drivers

With nan M4 closure affecting thousands of vehicles, present are immoderate recreation tips to thief you debar disruption and scheme your travel effectively:

1. Plan Ahead: Use online devices and apps for illustration Google Maps aliases Waze to cheque postulation updates successful real-time. These platforms supply accusation connected diversions, congestion, and alternate routes.
2. Travel During Off-Peak Times: If possible, schedule your travel extracurricular highest hours (between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM) to debar dense postulation connected diversion routes.
3. Consider Public Transport: If you’re walking wrong Bath aliases adjacent areas, see utilizing nationalist proscription options specified arsenic trains aliases buses to debar nan hassle of diversions.
4. Check for Local Events: Bath is known for its taste and humanities attractions. Check if location are immoderate events happening during nan closure that mightiness impact your recreation route.
5. Stay Informed: National Highways will supply ongoing updates connected their website and societal media channels, truthful enactment informed for immoderate changes to nan diversion routes aliases postulation conditions.

When Will nan M4 Reopen?

The closure will beryllium successful spot for nan weekend, from 7:00 PM BST connected Friday, October 24, to 6:00 AM GMT connected Monday, October 27. Once this shape of nan task is complete, nan M4 will reopen to traffic, marking nan last afloat closure of this agelong of motorway for nan A432 Badminton Road Bridge construction.

The bridge, which was built successful 1966, has undergone important demolition activity aft engineers identified cracks successful nan structure. This closure is 1 of nan last steps successful nan project, which will spot nan caller span reopen to nan nationalist successful early 2026, providing a safer and much businesslike carrier way for each users.

Final Thoughts for Travelers

As nan M4 prepares for its play closure, drivers and visitors are advised to scheme ahead, expect delays, and research replacement routes. While nan disruption is temporary, it is basal for nan semipermanent betterment of nan carrier web and will yet heighten connectivity successful nan region. By staying informed and flexible, travelers tin minimize nan effect of nan closure and proceed their journeys pinch ease.