M5 delays: Long detours for night-time drivers as slip roads close for works

Traffic will not be able to get on or off the motorway at the busy roundabout which leads onto Junction 2 after 9pm until May once the closures come into force later this month.

Both the northbound and southbound sides will be affected.

It means people needing to get onto the M5 during the night will have head to either West Bromwich or Halesowen. Those coming off will also need to do so at either Junction 1 for West Brom or Junction 3 for Halesowen.

Lorry drivers and other night traffic could face regular disruption.

The closures have been announced by Highways England which will be carrying out major repairs on the slip roads, including resurfacing and waterproofing.

Streetlight works and other carriageway repairs are also planned.

The first night closure will be on January 16 and will continue until April 30. Slip roads will re-open at 6am each morning.

While Albion are not due to play any night matches The Hawthorns during the period, the roadworks have the potential to clash with any FA Cup replays they might be involved in.

Oldbury councillor Suzanne Hartwell urged drivers to be patient during the works.

She said: "Whatever they do there is going to be disruption.

"But if they need to do roadworks it is the best time to do it. It's better than nine in the morning.

"It will cause disruption but I would ask drivers to be patient and be cautious on the roads while this is going on."

It is the latest motorway works to hit the region, coming hot on the heels of a six-month project on the M6 at Great Barr.

It is also the pre-cursor to a much larger project on the M5, which could last up to two years.

Maintenance work will be carried out on the 3km-long Oldbury Viaduct, which the motorway runs over and will see the existing waterproofing system, last renewed 30 years ago, replaced.

Traffic management has yet to be finalised but it could result in lanes being narrowed and the speed limit being reduced.