Timelapse footage has captured the moment the Grove Court and Uphill Court footbridges were demolished during last weekend’s M5 closure near Gloucester.

National Highways and contractors M Group have shared the footage, showing the two 60-year-old structures being dismantled with 50-tonne high-reach excavators.

Once demolished during the Saturday operation, 440 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of steel tendons were removed from the carriageway.

Following removal of the material, and plant equipment, including protective crash mats and containers, along with the full reinstatement of the central reservation and nearside safety barriers, work to lift the lane closures started at 8.30pm on Sunday.

Both northbound and southbound carriageways were fully reopened to traffic just after 9.30pm – well ahead of the scheduled 6am opening on Monday.

Terry Robinson, South West Engineering Lead for National Highways, said:

“Everyone involved in the demolition scheme worked extremely hard over the weekend and it was pleasing to be able to open well ahead of the scheduled completion time.

“We appreciate the closure affected motorists’ journeys in and around Gloucester over the weekend and we thank people in the meantime for their patience while we carried out this essential safety work.”

(Picture: M Group via National Highways)