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The M49 motorway
The M49 is a short (8 km / 5 miles) motorway which was built to link the Second Severn Crossing (now called the Prince of Wales Bridge) on the M4 with the southbound M5, so that such traffic did not need to use the very busy M5 west of Bristol. It was opened in 1996, and is sometimes called a “glorified slip road”.
The junction at the northern end ST5485, to the surprise of many, was built to allow traffic to join or leave the M4 in either direction. This was a useful decision, as it meant that the M5 west of Bristol could be bypassed in the event of an accident. (In the days when I had to reach Bath from NW Bristol in the early evening, it was a much better route than all the others.) However I suspect that the decision was taken for other reasons.
It is often stated that it is wrongly numbered, as it is south of the M4. This is true, but it is north of the A4, which defines road numberings. If we had an M39, south of the M4 and west of the M5, I think people would be even more confused!
Another statement often made about the M49 is that it is the only motorway in the UK which you cannot join from the main road network, you have to join it from another motorway (the M4 or the M5). This is technically true, but a bit spurious. You can join it from the A4 at Avonmouth. To do so, you are using M5 slip roads, but you never actually reach the M5 itself.
This statement may, in any case, not remain true for much longer. The whole area between the M49 and the River Severn is a huge industrial site and distribution centre. So Highways England have built a splendid new junction (in ST5582) to give access from this site to the motorway network: cost £35m or £50m, depending on which source you rely on. That is your money and mine.
What is the problem? Well, this new junction does not lead anywhere. The owners of the industrial estate have not built the necessary link roads, and so the exits are just blocked off. It does seem surprising, to say the least, that Highways England did not have a formal contract with the owners to have the link roads in place by a specified date.
In the meantime, the junction includes excellent cycle / walking routes to cross the motorway, and so, by a walk from Easter Compton church ST5782, I was able to secure some photographs.
The junction at the northern end ST5485, to the surprise of many, was built to allow traffic to join or leave the M4 in either direction. This was a useful decision, as it meant that the M5 west of Bristol could be bypassed in the event of an accident. (In the days when I had to reach Bath from NW Bristol in the early evening, it was a much better route than all the others.) However I suspect that the decision was taken for other reasons.
It is often stated that it is wrongly numbered, as it is south of the M4. This is true, but it is north of the A4, which defines road numberings. If we had an M39, south of the M4 and west of the M5, I think people would be even more confused!
Another statement often made about the M49 is that it is the only motorway in the UK which you cannot join from the main road network, you have to join it from another motorway (the M4 or the M5). This is technically true, but a bit spurious. You can join it from the A4 at Avonmouth. To do so, you are using M5 slip roads, but you never actually reach the M5 itself.
This statement may, in any case, not remain true for much longer. The whole area between the M49 and the River Severn is a huge industrial site and distribution centre. So Highways England have built a splendid new junction (in ST5582) to give access from this site to the motorway network: cost £35m or £50m, depending on which source you rely on. That is your money and mine.
What is the problem? Well, this new junction does not lead anywhere. The owners of the industrial estate have not built the necessary link roads, and so the exits are just blocked off. It does seem surprising, to say the least, that Highways England did not have a formal contract with the owners to have the link roads in place by a specified date.
In the meantime, the junction includes excellent cycle / walking routes to cross the motorway, and so, by a walk from Easter Compton church ST5782, I was able to secure some photographs.
Created: Sat, 29 Aug 2020, Updated: Mon, 28 Dec 2020
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