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Man on bridge causes M5 closure Man on bridge causes M5 closure
(39 minutes later)
Police have shut a section of the M5 in Bristol following concerns for the safety of a man on a motorway bridge.Police have shut a section of the M5 in Bristol following concerns for the safety of a man on a motorway bridge.
All northbound lanes on the Avonmouth Bridge have been closed between junctions 18a and 19 while police deal with the incident. Two lanes on the northbound carriageway on the Avonmouth Bridge have now been opened between junctions 18a and 19 but traffic is still expected to be slow.
A 35-mile-long traffic queue has built up stretching back to junction 23 at Bridgwater in Somerset. A 35-mile-long traffic queue had built up stretching back to junction 23 at Bridgwater in Somerset.
The Highways Agency is supplying water to stranded motorists and hopes to set up portable toilets at junction 21.The Highways Agency is supplying water to stranded motorists and hopes to set up portable toilets at junction 21.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "We have had to close the bridge to ensure the safety of the officers at the scene. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police, speaking earlier, said: "We have had to close the bridge to ensure the safety of the officers at the scene.
"We were also concerned about the very real danger of secondary accidents as motorists were being distracted.""We were also concerned about the very real danger of secondary accidents as motorists were being distracted."
Dave Sledge, of the Highways Agency, said: "The police are hoping to open one of the lanes on the bridge soon but with the huge backlog of traffic this will still mean very long delays. The exit slip road at junction 19 on the southbound carriageway has also reopened following a small accident earlier, meaning that motorists can now access Gordano services.
"We are asking people not to stand on the hard shoulder as emergency vehicles may still need to get through."
The exit slip road at junction 19 on the southbound carriageway has now reopened following a small accident earlier meaning that motorists can now access Gordano services.
Northbound traffic is still being diverted away from the motorway at junction 21 for Weston-super-Mare and along the A370.Northbound traffic is still being diverted away from the motorway at junction 21 for Weston-super-Mare and along the A370.
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Police have closed the M5 northbound at the Avonmouth Bridge in BristolPolice have closed the M5 northbound at the Avonmouth Bridge in Bristol