HIGH WINDS last week prevented the planned closure of the southbound carriageway of the M5 between junctions 30 and 31 at Exeter, leading to its closure for four nights this week.

The closures were required for the erection of new overhead gantries, part of the Highways Agency's £2.6 million widening project, which is adding a fourth lane to the motorway at its junction with the A30. Further closures of this section are proposed between 9pm and 5am on the nights of 17-19 February, to allow for the dismantling and removal of the existing old gantries.

Southbound traffic will be diverted off the motorway at junction 30 via the A379 southwest, and along the old Exeter Bypass passing through the Countess Wear roundabout, and west at Dawlish Road roundabout to Matford roundabout.

Traffic wishing to join the A38 will continue southwest on the A379 to join the A38 at Kennford.

Traffic wishing to join the A30 will proceed north from the Matford roundabout, into Marsh Barton estate via the B3123, through Bad Homburg roundabout, along Hennock Road, left into Alphinbrook roundabout, right into Trusham Road, left into Marsh Barton Road, and then left into the A377 Alphington Road and south to the A30 Alphington interchange to join the A30.

All these temporary diversions will be clearly indicated by traffic signs when the diversions are in place.