Charlotte HughesThe M5 closes in both directions between junctions 11 and 12 near Gloucester at 11pm tonight, Friday 16 October 2026, and stays shut until 6am on Monday 19 October. That is 55 hours without the motorway, and plenty of drivers are asking who pays if it makes them late.
What is closing, and why
National Highways is demolishing the Uphill Court and Grove Court footbridges, which cross the M5 between junctions 11 and 12. Both have been closed to pedestrians since 9 March 2026 because their condition is deteriorating. According to the National Highways project page, the full closure includes junction 11a.
The northbound junction 11a exit slip road has also been shut around the clock since 8pm on Sunday 11 October for about two weeks. The space is used to store demolition machinery, so northbound drivers must leave at junction 11 instead.
Local reporting by SoGlos says the diversion runs through the A38, the A40 Cheltenham to Gloucester road and the A417. National Highways warns that some of these routes were not designed for heavy traffic. It also advises Midlands to South Wales drivers to take the M50.
The question drivers keep asking: who pays if I am late?
Short answer: usually nobody, unless a contract or policy says so. A planned road closure is not an airline fault, a rail fault or an employer fault. That is why it matters to check your paperwork before Friday night rather than after a missed appointment.
Can my employer dock my pay for arriving late? There is no general legal right to be paid for time you did not work because of a closed road. Whether your employer can deduct pay depends on your contract and on the rules on lawful deductions under the Employment Rights Act 1996. If you are salaried and your contract is silent, deductions are much harder to justify. Tell your manager in advance and ask for flexible hours or remote working in writing.
Will my airline compensate me for a missed flight? No. UK flight compensation rules cover disruption caused by the airline, such as cancellations and long delays. A motorway closure on your way to the airport is outside those rules.
Will my travel insurance cover it? Sometimes. Many standard policies exclude missed departures caused by road closures unless they include specific "missed departure" cover. Read the wording on what counts as a covered cause, and check any minimum time you must allow for the journey.
What if a closure delays a court date or a legal deadline? Contact the court or tribunal before the hearing. Do not assume the delay will be excused afterwards.
A worked example: the Saturday flight
Take a driver living in Cheltenham with a 14:10 flight from Bristol Airport on Saturday 17 October. Normally the journey is roughly 75 minutes via the M5, and they plan to arrive at the airport two hours before departure, meaning a 12:10 arrival and a 10:55 departure from home.
With the M5 shut, the diversion could easily add 40 minutes or more on a busy weekend. That would mean leaving at around 10:15 at the latest. If they leave at 10:55 as usual and arrive at 13:20, check-in may already have closed, since many airlines close desks 40 to 60 minutes before departure.
If they miss the flight, then the airline owes nothing, because the cause was a road closure. If they bought a basic £25 policy without missed-departure cover, they will probably also bear the cost of a new £180 ticket themselves. If they hold a policy that includes missed-departure cover, they may be able to claim, but only if they can show they left a reasonable amount of time.
So the practical rule is simple: if the paperwork does not protect you, the only protection is leaving earlier. Add at least 45 minutes on Saturday, keep your insurance schedule in the car, and photograph the diversion signs and any closure notices you pass, as evidence of why you were delayed.
Commuters and local residents on the diversion
Drivers who do not need the M5 at all may still feel the closure. Diverted traffic is expected to be heavy on the A38, the A40 and the A417, and National Highways has asked road users to drive considerately through local communities. Other works are running nearby, including lane closures on the A40 at Over Bridge and overnight closures on the A417 between Gloucester and Cirencester.
For commuters, the practical issue is predictability. If your journey to work normally takes 25 minutes, plan for double that on Monday 19 October, because the motorway reopens at 6am but queues can linger into the morning peak. Ask your employer now whether a later start or a day working from home is possible, and get the answer in writing.
The northbound junction 11a exit slip road remains shut until roughly the end of October, so the disruption does not end on Monday. Allow extra time for any journey that normally uses that exit.
What happens to the bridges next
The demolition is the first step. National Highways says the two 69-metre footbridges have reached the end of their structural life and will be replaced with new crossings for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users, within the next five years and subject to funding and other network priorities. The project page lists a 2027 build in places, so the timetable may shift.
Until then, anyone who relied on the bridges to cross the motorway has already been without them since March. If that affects access to a home, farm or business, it is worth asking the local council or National Highways what alternative arrangements exist.
Small businesses and tradespeople
Contractors, delivery firms and mobile tradespeople face a different problem. A missed slot can mean a lost day rate, a late-delivery penalty or a dispute with a customer.
Check the terms you signed. Some contracts contain a force majeure clause, which can excuse delays caused by events outside your control. Whether a pre-announced road closure qualifies is often arguable, because you knew about it weeks in advance. Courts tend to ask whether you could reasonably have avoided the problem. Keep your records: dated messages to customers, route plans and timestamps all help.
For earlier cases of the same dilemma, see our explainers on A30 roadworks and driver rights and on who bears liability after a road closure.
What to do before 11pm tonight
- Check your contract or insurance wording for missed departure, travel disruption and force majeure terms.
- Tell your employer or customer in writing which journeys the closure affects and how you plan to cope.
- Follow the official diversion signs, not your satnav. National Highways says satnavs may send traffic along unsuitable local roads.
- Keep records of delays, costs and communications in case you need to claim or dispute a deduction.
- Consider the M50 if you are travelling between the Midlands and South Wales.
When a legal expert is worth it
Most delay disputes are small. They become worth professional advice when pay deductions are involved, a contract penalty is in play, or an insurer refuses a claim that looks valid. A solicitor or employment adviser can read the actual wording and tell you whether you have a case before you spend time on a complaint.
Expert Zoom connects readers with verified legal professionals who can review an employment contract, a travel insurance refusal or a commercial delay clause. If a closure like this one has left you out of pocket, ask a legal expert to look at your documents.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules depend on your contract, your policy and your circumstances. Speak to a qualified solicitor about your specific situation.
