Recent footage captures the intense efforts of contractors as they worked to demolish a bridge over the M4 and reopen the essential motorway before the Monday morning rush.
The A432 Badminton Road bridge, a crucial connection between Yate and Bristol that crosses the M4, was closed in July 2023 due to structural cracks. Last month, National Highways' teams sprang into action to dismantle the aging bridge.
The motorway was closed for a weekend at the end of March to facilitate the demolition works, as reported by BristolLive. The video released by National Highways reveals the meticulous stages of the demolition, with excavators tearing through concrete and steel cables while wheel loaders remove debris.
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Terry Robinson, engineering team manager at National Highways, highlighted the urgency of the operation, citing serious problems with the post-tensioning system as the reason for the demolition. The tight 60-hour window for the operation was necessary to ensure the road was reopened for Monday morning traffic.
The old bridge, constructed in 1966, was built without considering future maintenance needs. A new bridge with three lanes, two of which will run southbound towards Wick Wick Roundabout, is set to be constructed, with completion possibly taking up to a year.
National Highways and South Gloucestershire Council aim to open the new bridge to the public in March 2026.