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The motorway to the sun 2 1 M5 Motorway – Heaven or Hell? <strong>Newslink</strong> editor Colin Lilly takes a look back at one of the UK’s most ambitious motorway building projects, the M5 Earlier this year my uncle, Derek Lilly, died, aged 96. During his life he had been a respected local historian, and combined his passion for local history with his hobby of photography. He was keen to photograph events, life and the environment in an attempt to capture history in the making. In his 80s he set about digitising his huge photo collection, sharing many on social media well into his 96th year. Looking through the photos I came across some he took of the construction of the M5 around our hometown of Clevedon during the late sixties and early seventies. Throughout my childhood I lived within half-a-mile of what is now junction 20 of the M5. Much of the countryside and the lanes that crisscrossed that area were destroyed and now lie under the motorway. My uncle had the ability to talk his way onto construction sites to photograph events. These were the days before health and safety were invented. The photographs on these pages show the motorway’s construction, and what it looks like now. The black and white photo (photo 1) shows the construction – or destruction – of the section through the hillside between the Gordano Valley and Clevedon. The colour photo (photo 2) was taken from approximately the same point. The height of the hill on either side gives some idea of the amount of material removed. The soil and rock was used to form the foundations of the motorway across the marshy land to the south. The motorway was built as three lanes, but a fourth lane was added in recent years to ensure that traffic flowed around junction 20. The other side of the hill leads to what travellers refer to as the ‘split level section’ (see photo 3). The correct name is the Wynhol Viaduct; it’s named after the farm that lies in the space below the viaducts. The viaducts compensate for the undulations in the hillside. Each span is approximately 1,600 feet long and 100 ft high. Photo 3 shows the view across the valley and the way the hillside was carved to accommodate the viaducts. Photo 4 shows the view of the viaducts across the valley. The damage to the environment could have been worse. Junction 20 was built to accommodate an extra junction for a planned link road from South Bristol to junction 20. However, the project was cancelled, but not before the Long Ashton By-pass and Queens Road in 26 NEWSLINK n OCTOBER 2020
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com 3 4 Nailsea had been constructed – though much of the moorland was saved. This project is an example of the innovations in road construction that was in its infancy at that time. This road was part of the section of motorway that ran from Junction 17 at Cribbs Causeway, north of Bristol to Junction 22 at Edithmead near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. The carriageway was completed in 1971 but was not opened until 1974 due to delays in building the bridge over the River Avon between Avonmouth and Portbury. The delays were because there were problems with the box girder technique being used. The fact we had had a three-lane motorway running through North Somerset at a time when much of the network still had two lanes led to much frustration and satire locally. When it eventually opened it seemed like transport heaven. However, to those travelling towards the south west during summer weekends now it may seem like transport hell. The construction of the motorway coincided with the destruction of the railway network across the country, a decision that showed all the foresight of Mr Magoo. (Note to younger readers: Mr Magoo – a short-sighted cartoon character!) CONTACT To comment on this article, or provide a nostalgic look back at the impact roads and motorways have had in your area, contact Colin on editor@msagb.com ‘‘ When it eventually opened it seemed like transport heaven. However, to those travelling towards the south west during summer weekends now it may seem like transport hell. ‘‘ WWW.MSAGB.COM 27
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