When you cross the "High/low bit" southbound it's the official beginning of your holiday. Driving down from the Midlands the view from the viaduct gives you your first glimpse of the sea!
@tonybrook7768
29 күн бұрын
If you travel this section on Friday afternoon or Saturdays, you will have plenty of time to marvel at the engineering of the structure as you crawl along at snails pace.
@nathanlucas6465
Ай бұрын
I never realised how high that viaduct is. I used to work as a towtruck driver, and got sent out to pick someone up who had broken down on the southbound side. I'm not good with heights, and made the mistake of looking over the edge 😮 the customer ended up having to help me stand up as I'd gone very dizzy 😂
@stevekelly5166
Ай бұрын
Did he tow you home and get his money back?
@Species1571
29 күн бұрын
Recovery needed to recover.
@Sarge084
29 күн бұрын
@@nathanlucas6465 As a regular user of the M5 in a truck, the only time my arse was twitching on that section was heading south at the time they were resurfacing lane 1. Obviously lane 2 was closed as well, so there I was, at high level in a truck cab in lane 3 with a shear drop to my right. I can tell you right now, I kept my eyes strictly ahead for the duration of that section!
@nathanlucas6465
29 күн бұрын
@@Sarge084 the only time I've had that feeling while driving was getting stuck in an artic on the Severn bridge behind an accident. You could feel the bridge move each time a heavy went past the other way 😶
@Sarge084
29 күн бұрын
@@nathanlucas6465 I've taken a truck over on the Woolwich Free Ferry a few times, but the most memorable time was when I was first on, I drove right up to the barrier and all the way across the Thames I was looking straight down at the river swirling away in front of me!
@vincerussett7922
Ай бұрын
Glad someone else has picked up on what a magnificent piece of engineering and design this part of the M5 is.
@markonemusic
Ай бұрын
For 30 years this was on my daily commute. Yes it is a great bit of engineering. A few things to add: It's quite a twisty section of motorway as it clings to the side of the hill and in the middle of the winter with the rain lashing down and a westerly gale gusting at you from the side it can be a 'challenging' section to drive. And finally, whoever designed in the 4th lane from J19 really didn't think it through. because cars scream up the hill towards the split level bit in lane 4 only to find their carriageway disappears at the top so have to suddenly get into lane three which is already full of cars so they have to stop. And then lane 3 stops. And then lane 2 stops. Eventually lane 1 stops too and it all tails back to J16. Often, the best strategy is to get into lane 1 early and then sail past, waving at the stationary idiots.
@Dan23_7
Ай бұрын
If you know you know 👍🏼 Meeeee 😁
@cllris
Ай бұрын
Haha. Smug lane one cruising ftw 😂
@Species1571
29 күн бұрын
It's supposed to be merge-in-turn in that situation.
@xr6lad
29 күн бұрын
@@Species1571it’s also meant to be ‘a-holes that try to be smart and leave it to the last moment to push in despite knowing the lanes narrow don’t deserve any consideration’ They have several signs warning of such and it is meant to be correct driving to merge in and not try to jump 20 cars ahead and push in.
@Jehty_
29 күн бұрын
@@xr6lad waiting till the last moment is how you are supposed to do it. Because that ensures the best flow. Of course that won't work if there are smug people in lane 2 who don't let people in because that would hurt their ego.
@andrewhotston983
Ай бұрын
My favourite bit of motorway. An elderly gentleman of my acquaintance, Mr Carr, was, I believe, one of the engineers who designed that stretch of motorway. He did a grand job.
@David_Crayford
Ай бұрын
Some nominative determinism there!
@DavidOfWhitehills
Ай бұрын
I hope his first name is Laurie.
@davidf2281
29 күн бұрын
@@DavidOfWhitehills I hope he had Dutch heritage and his full name was Laurie van Carr
@JaidenJimenez86
29 күн бұрын
The BBC did a write-up on this not too long ago with an original engineer (if not him, then another senior engineer), as well as an interview with a current day manager who oversees maintenance. Worth a read.
@misterflibble9799
28 күн бұрын
Alan or Jimmy?
@twocvbloke
Ай бұрын
One of them rare times they built something that was actually built, worked, has lasted and is still going strong, they need to find who the people were behind its' construction and learn from them on how to build infrastructure... :P
@stevekelly5166
Ай бұрын
You can't widen it though and make it smart. @twocvbloke You got two CVs on the hob?
@Mark1024MAK
29 күн бұрын
@@stevekelly5166- we don’t want anymore so called “smart” motorways thank you very much. The section around the Almondbury Interchange (junctions 19 to 20 on the M4 and 15 to 17 on the M5) are bad enough. It took well over two years of road works to install this junk causing traffic chaos and now you still get lots of congestion in the area. Even when the traffic level is not high, often the variable speed limit function is activated with 60, 50 or sometimes 40 MPH speed limits for no apparent reason. That includes late in the evening long after “rush hour”! That’s 33 overhead gantries of pain. And then there is the speed cameras... But there are only six emergency refuge areas for seven miles of motorway... What a waste of money.
@ChimpManZ1264
29 күн бұрын
@@Mark1024MAKFrankly it's not all a waste of money when the main issue with Motorway traffic in the first place is too many people don't know how to use them. The outer lanes are only meant for overtaking and all traffic should generally drive on the inside lane. But instead people treat those lanes like driving lanes and don't do the 70mph that is meant to keep traffic flow steady. Instead everyone is doing their own speed while lane hogging and that is the main cause of congestion in modern motorway driving.
@WIP532
28 күн бұрын
Laurie van Carr was the engineer apparently 🤷♂
@stevekelly5166
28 күн бұрын
@@Mark1024MAK I'm a Bristolian mate. I just said you cannot make it SMART when elevated. Like build another lane. An orange layby? I'm on your side. Now living near Newbury and the M4 here is whacky. It's SMART though! NOT! BTW who are "WE" you phuckwit?
@glynmatthews6697
Ай бұрын
I was driving on that bit there and I looked out over the valley and a spitfire was flying straight towards me and pitched up right at the last second - amazing
@DavidOfWhitehills
Ай бұрын
You're lucky it wasn't a messchershmitt.
@glynmatthews6697
29 күн бұрын
@@DavidOfWhitehills you bet!
@senseofthecommonman
25 күн бұрын
I live on the hill opposite, one day I was walking my dog and got to witness my own private spitfire display taking place directly over me. It was one of the best air displays I have ever seen, possibly the same one that you saw.
@senseofthecommonman
25 күн бұрын
@@DavidOfWhitehillsnice one😂😂
@glynmatthews6697
25 күн бұрын
@@senseofthecommonman very likely! About 20 years ago I think ..
@AlexLapinski
Ай бұрын
"Demolish most of Clevedon". That made me laugh and I live here 🤣 I drive over this viaduct nearly every date as I commute to Avonmouth and I always enjoy the view of a traffic jam above me as I fly north away from it all
@Harry._.Thompson
12 күн бұрын
I don’t understand the hate for clevedon i always thought it was rather nice . Lol
@DjAlLindsay
Ай бұрын
I live next to J21. Drive this daily. Amazes me how many people don't know how 4 lanes can actually merge into 3
@JamieDD92
Ай бұрын
Came here to say the same 😂
@baldfatgit1
Ай бұрын
Me to 🤩
@haggielady
Ай бұрын
Wait a second. You mean to tell me that some British drivers act the same way at home as they do in Florida whilst on vacation?
@DjAlLindsay
Ай бұрын
@@haggielady it's not a Friday afternoon in Somerset without at least one lane closed
@Paul-pb4wv
29 күн бұрын
Talent, common sense & courtesy appear to be in short supply these days ....
@flyingpanhandle
Ай бұрын
I absolutely love this stretch of road. As a kid, we travelled from the North of England to Cornwall every year, this viaduct was a sign we were close. Didn't go back to Cornwall for 20 years, and memories came flooding back as soon as i saw it. Have been going back to Cornwall every year for the last 3 years since.
@stevekelly5166
29 күн бұрын
As a Bristolian, you were not close at all. Remember the smell at Bridgewater? Bet you don't. Celophane.
@JP_TaVeryMuch
29 күн бұрын
@@stevekelly5166ahhh Bisto! Oh no, err, British Cellophane Works. Yum!? Anyway time and distance are relative.
@mikeoglen6848
29 күн бұрын
@@stevekelly5166 Does "Celophane" smell, then?
@misterflibble9799
28 күн бұрын
@mikeoglen6848 the end product might not, but the factory stank.
@EdwinWalkerProfile
29 күн бұрын
I thought I'd never seen this viaduct before, but turns out I take the same picture of it every time I cycle to Clevedon. I thank the M5 for making the country lanes so peaceful.
@alexanderswistak1778
Ай бұрын
I always feel like I’m properly on holiday once I’ve driven over this part of motorway to Devon
@gowanlock
Ай бұрын
Me too, from the Midlands, it means I've made it
@samholdsworth420
Ай бұрын
You know you live in a horrible boring country when was that excites you lmao
@waynepunkdude
Ай бұрын
I'm in Cornwall, same but going the other way
@Zero_Ninety
Ай бұрын
I used to work in Clevedon and I always felt like I was properly at work once I've driven over this part of Motorway.
@barrymontgomery408
Ай бұрын
Hi very informative information about the engineering feat around clevedon and gordano. The m6 in south cumbria is another way to head to blackpool and the south. The engineers constructing the m6 had an idea to build a tunnel but it was scrapped due to the astronomical cost of the construction works. That is why the motorway is undulating in mid and south cumbria. Great video sir.
@timstradling7764
29 күн бұрын
A friend was one of the scraper drivers for Blackwells on this section, scraping the blasted material either side of the raised section. Shift work, and he reckoned it was the most dangerous job he ever did with the danger of plunging down the hill if the machine slid. RIP Jimmy.
@GWorsfold
Ай бұрын
I liked this video so I clicked on the button specifically for that.
@davidyardley512
29 күн бұрын
I liked your comment so much that I clicked on the button specifically for that.
@richardsmith9138
29 күн бұрын
@@davidyardley512ditto
@davidf2281
29 күн бұрын
CLEVER
@janksolid
29 күн бұрын
I LIKE CLICK
@Snowy1of1
29 күн бұрын
@@davidyardley512 I also liked your comment so clicked on the button specifically for that.
@dazzlingdaz187
29 күн бұрын
Wow, ive travelled on that hundreds of times but never knew what it was called. I always called it the split level bit. Thanks
@wizzerthewizard1061
Ай бұрын
I work in highway inspection and did an extensive series of refurbishment surveys along the 5 or so bridges that are all fairly close together along that strech, including wynhol viaduct, as I assume there will be an extensive refurbishment scheme coming up in the near future. During this inspection i got inside the voids in the deck boxes. There is a very extensive colony of bats in there which affected what work we could do and when
@JoshCarterWeb
29 күн бұрын
Have you got any pictures?
@MrZephy
29 күн бұрын
Could any level of inspection be achieved by drone nowadays?
@williamtrehearne4037
24 күн бұрын
Or by bat?
@ianhart3048
29 күн бұрын
Remember that section of motorway being quite exciting when we used to go down to Cornwall every year in the Morris 1100. Wonderful!
@colinmscott
23 күн бұрын
My late father was one of the surveyors who worked on this stretch of the M5 construction project, and it was indeed the reason my family moved to the area from Yorkshire where I was born. My mother still lives in North Somerset and I now live only a little further south.
@twoeggcups
Ай бұрын
I’ve always loved this section of the M5, this is where Cornish holidays begin.
@nervo6321
27 күн бұрын
Over 50 years old and still a feat of fantastic engineering.
@yvindkittelsaa1601
Ай бұрын
I am ever impressed by how you can make something seemingly boring sound incredible and awesome. Keep up the good work!
@chriswalford4161
29 күн бұрын
Thanks for appreciating the engineering!
@godfreytables3141
Ай бұрын
Ohhh - The Shelf! Probably one of my favourite sections of motorway...
@spacetweek
27 күн бұрын
I’m not from the UK, but I did notice the split level bit when I was on a road trip in Cornwall about 10 years ago. Great views.
@Jonny_The_Organism
Ай бұрын
The extraordinary part of Richard Hammond's "High Low Bit Top Gear Bolivia Special" rambling!..
@IDeltic
Ай бұрын
As someone else who lives in the midlands and holidayed in south Devon a lot as a kid, I related wholeheartedly to that rambling.
@Jonny_The_Organism
29 күн бұрын
@@IDeltic those highs and lows of holidaying in the south west of England ....well done!..
@BurtSpacecat
21 күн бұрын
I absolutely love driving this section of motorway. Always on my way to a holiday in Devon or Cornwall.
@ensuingyelps79
29 күн бұрын
Apart from demolishing Clevedon, the other reason not to go through that 'nice flat bit' is that it's a National Nature Reserve. Back in 1971 it was designated as a SSSI, which was probably another reason that steered the planners away from the valley and onto the hillside. It's certainly ended up being more ecologically friendly as a result. There's quite a few footpaths - and footbridges - that cross this section of motorway, with two going over and a couple going under the viaduct section. The footbridge that crosses over the top of the split level section is not great if you don't like heights! Whereas the footpaths under the viaducts really allow the scale of the engineering to be appreciated. When driving northbound, just before you leave the viaduct, a metal access door is visible in the base of the southvbound viaduct, under the carriageway. I've always wondered whats behind that door, and how often people go in there...
@JP_TaVeryMuch
29 күн бұрын
Thanks for the memory, that door, me too!
@JaidenJimenez86
29 күн бұрын
I've also wondered if building a motorway on such terrain would have a massive flood risk impact, given the earthworks involved, and the surrounding geography
@nickhickson8738
23 күн бұрын
I pity people whose houses are nearby and suffer from noise pollution every day of the year. Relentless noise.
@tdyerwestfield
29 күн бұрын
I've been along that road many times. I'd argue it's the UK's finest piece of road infrastructure. It's quite remarkable how they've made managed to construct and fit a motorway in certain places.
@ianbutland844
29 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for looking at this. Living in the south west I have used this section of the M5 all my life and always marveled at it from above. It is great to see it from below.
@edwardgurhy100
Ай бұрын
I go mountain biking underneath it ..... really pretty impressive when you look up. Always worth pausing for.
@tonycharlton4296
29 күн бұрын
I’ve always admired this piece of engineering.
@Sarge084
29 күн бұрын
Oooooh! You've made it to the South-West, does that mean there's a possibility of you doing the A38 holiday route, maybe from Birmingham to Weston -super-Mare!? The A38 was our family route in the 60's as we travelled from Worcestershire to Auntie Hannah's caravan at Brean Sands. I was still at school when they built the M5 past, what is now Gordano Services, i went with my father to Portishead and we had to cross the construction area on a temporary road while Junction 19 was being built. Quite a few years later and I would find myself travelling the M5 along the Split Level several times a week. Oh go on Jon, make my day and do the A38, you won't regret it!
@minimoocher822
29 күн бұрын
When driving Southbound always look out for the single house on the left - up the hillside - tucked away in the woods. They must have an amazing view of both carriageways - but must miss the beautiful view they had before it was built.
@ianbeale2527
24 күн бұрын
Not just me and my other half then ! Strange how these little "Landmarks" are reassuring parts of the journey that we use to denote how far we have come or how far we need to go from those points. There's a large hill to the right on the southbound journey ( can't remember whereabouts now), that my other half always - and I mean ALWAYS, tells me when we pass it, that as a child she thought it was the hill from "Watership Down" !
@SS-zz4pi
23 күн бұрын
Me three! Been up and down this bit since it was built and always looked for the house as I thought it would be great to live there. Now as the driver it's a bit trickier to spot....
@Right_is_Wrong
22 күн бұрын
I'm always driving and haven't seen it for years, I thought that it had been knocked down. My wife said that it wasn't there but she is as blind as a bat without he glasses.
@rogersinclair2772
22 күн бұрын
@@ianbeale2527 Brent Knoll. After Sedgemoor Services when travelling South, just before junction 22 for the B3140 to Burnham-on-Sea. 137 metre isolated hill, which was an island before the Somerset Levels were drained, and site of a Iron Age hillfort dating to about 2000 BC. Watership Down is a real place, although some distance from the M5, near Kingsclere in Hampshire. I still have fond memories of reading that book to my little daughter some 50 years ago.
@SpikeLawrence
Ай бұрын
As someone who lives near Plymouth, this part of the motorway always peaked my interest when I was little (and still does!). Please make a video about the A38 Orange Elephant!
@VictorianDad
Ай бұрын
*piqued your interest
@SpikeLawrence
Ай бұрын
@@VictorianDad Oops, disappointed in myself! Thanks for correcting
@paulketchupwitheverything767
27 күн бұрын
Thanks Jon. I've been along the M5 there quite a few times and noticed that the carriageway was at two different levels, especially where there are the long stretches of terracing. This is the first time I've been able to appreciate the viaduct because you are across it in a couple of seconds and can't see much from the road.
@621pw
29 күн бұрын
I love driving this part of the M5, especially southbound and look forward to it each time. Thank you for covering this.
@chrisrand5185
Ай бұрын
That was interesting, thank you. I have a copy of Motor magazine from January 1973 which includes a progress update on the M5. It appears that the motorway including the viaduct was completed by then, but delays with the Avonmouth bridge meant that route out of Bristol would not be completed until well into 1974.
@vincentharriman3283
14 күн бұрын
Yep, I can just about remember coming off the M5 and having to use the A38.
@daveshongkongchinachannel
Ай бұрын
Travelled along that stretch of road countless times as a passenger when I was a kid back in the 70s and 80s and the memories all came back watching this video.
@roberthorwat6747
28 күн бұрын
Always used to sing a Wurzels song driving over that 🎼Off we go again-o! 🎼To Easton in Gordano
@paullinnitt5450
Ай бұрын
As a former resident of Clevedon, I can’t believe you suggesting demotion. It’s not Slough you know. The view as you drop down towards J20 is fabulous too. Weston and the Quantocks and Exmoor over Bridgewater bay. You always have plenty of time to look with all the congestion on the section from J19 to J23 all summer 😂
@stermindelves4251
23 күн бұрын
Tut tut. It’s Bridgwater (no ‘e’) didn’t live here very long i guess
@GordonGibbons
Ай бұрын
Nice to see you in our neck of the woods 🙂 BEST VIDEO EVER 🙂
@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian
Ай бұрын
Proof that prestressed concrete can be beautiful. 👌
@elelegidosf9707
29 күн бұрын
I love a bit of pre-stressed concrete
@handyandy6050
29 күн бұрын
@@elelegidosf9707 Oer!
@chriswaites1222
29 күн бұрын
No need to get stressed about it.
@jwright4222
29 күн бұрын
Beautiful?
@stermindelves4251
23 күн бұрын
Yes beautiful. Sydney Opera House also made of pre stressed concrete and also beautiful.
@RalfyCustoms
Ай бұрын
I always enjoy driving or riding along this section of the motorway, fantastic bit of engineering
@LordClunk
Ай бұрын
I'm sure in a Smith and Sniff Podcast, Johnny Smith, of of that Late brake show, fifth gear, and all that, mentioned that his father was one of the engineers in charge of that project. I drive over that twice a night in my truck, and often wondered what it looked like from underneath.
@alopexlagopus1488
29 күн бұрын
I used to live close by this a I learned to drive shortly after this was completed. After passing my test, I went straight here for my first solo run. Although I don't live here now, whenever I drive this section it brings back memories of that one day.
@angusaddison3926
Ай бұрын
An interesting thought which might not have been considered. If there was to be an accident, this type of layered system avoids seeing the other carriageway and avoids traffic slowing down to get a bloody look at any carnage. 😮
@stevehutchinson5399
Ай бұрын
My favourite stretch of motorway. Go to see my daughter and future son in law regularly from the Weston entrance through to the Cribbs Causeway exit, and actually look forward to the motorway drive! PS then the bridge over the Avon is a bonus....
@timbennett3348
Ай бұрын
I've always looked out for this bit of the M5 for the past 40 years, and also the Camel peering over the M5 at Bridgwater which i think been removed now.
@roderickmain9697
Ай бұрын
One of the better bits of motorway construction. Ive traveled it many times. 50 years old though!!! Wow.
@TMCNJ
29 күн бұрын
I love getting to see these POIs I’ve been seeing on my travels featured in your vids. Really enjoying my new job as a long distance trucker ☺️
@dufushead
26 күн бұрын
I lived for many years a short distance from here so this was my backyard. The brideway you stood on takes you to the top of the ridge and Cadbury Camp, the other way onto the Old Clevedon Road or over to The Old Weston Drove. It cost less then £2 million to build, what an investment.
@katieandkevinsears7724
29 күн бұрын
There is a section of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado very similar to this. It may even have been inspired at least partly by it.The road was built through a narrow canyon that already had a two lane highway running through. They used the already existing highway as the eastbound lanes and basically hung the westbound lanes on the cliff above. It's a gorgeous drive and an engineering feat.
@TheThejpmshow
Ай бұрын
I dread to think that one day that incredible piece of engineering will require renewing It will be utter chaos for YEARS
@stevekelly5166
Ай бұрын
You will be 6 feet under love. Enjoy now if you are able.
@Mark1024MAK
29 күн бұрын
And the alternative routes (A370 and A38) will be even more hell than usual...
@JaidenJimenez86
29 күн бұрын
God, yes. Last year that section was closed each night - the posted diversion took you through several villages, I felt most guilty bringing a fuckin great artic within feet of ancient cottages at 2am. Imagine living there and dealing with motorway traffic for a year or more every night...
@Jon-em4kc
29 күн бұрын
Just build a new section alongside this one. Quite simple.
@TheThejpmshow
26 күн бұрын
@@JaidenJimenez86 one particular bit through Backwell was particularly narrow, being a HGV driver driving through at 2am was alarming!
@MrSimonfoz
Ай бұрын
I’ve traveled this road loads of times , always impressed. Never knew it was the same age as me !
@cllris
Ай бұрын
One of my favourites. Great views of it from the B3124 which has recently been resurfaced on some proper european spec tarmac, making it a great road to drive!
@urban-britain
Ай бұрын
I’ve been driven over that what feels like hundreds of times and I’ve always found stunning. Excellent video!!!
@ianmarshall170
29 күн бұрын
I first remember going on this bit of motorway in about 1974 when I was about 8 and it has amazed me ever since I think the main reason for this is that I know I will soon be in Devon or Cornwall on my holidays something I still look forward to & knowing I am on this stretch of motorway I’m getting closer!!!
@MrGarethDHughes
Ай бұрын
Love the view from this part of the Motorway.. Fantastic work as always Sir.
@m341ehw
29 күн бұрын
We've always called it the split levels, spent many an hour stuck up there on my way home from work during silly season!
@matthewskidmore2397
Ай бұрын
Drove over this viaduct heading southbound last Saturday for our holiday in Devon/Cornwall and this was my favourite part of a drive that was mostly spent sitting in traffic jams all the way from the North West. Get to go over it again on Saturday, northbound this time.
@Semtx552
Ай бұрын
my advice is to flatten the land before you start building, saves a ton of hassle. kind regards from Holland
@JaidenJimenez86
29 күн бұрын
You're cheating, god did that for you
@frankwilson2607
10 күн бұрын
🤣
@timwood7808
28 күн бұрын
I do notice and always marvel in the engineering. Thanks for the vid Jon. Demolishing clevedon not being a bad thing made me chuckle.
@AlexanderWright1
Ай бұрын
Also of note in the area is the huge bridge carrying the motorway from Junction 19 (Gordano services) north into Bristol. An immense span high above the docks.
@elliottjames8020
Ай бұрын
That's always been a favourite part of the M-5
@Gowah8
20 күн бұрын
The design engineer for this section was Freeman Fox & Partners (which later became Acer; then Hyder and now part of Arcadis). Whilst a student at Portsmouth Polytechnic, the construction site was one of our field trips and we walked along inside one of the box girders. Little did I now that 10 years later I would be working for FFP in Hong Kong with one of the young FFP senior engineers that had worked on the design of this section as my boss !
@mjlamb80
Ай бұрын
I remember driving along this, several times as a kid, now I live in Canada, approximately 3800 miles from there
@vinniesuperstar8923
Ай бұрын
I'm glad that you came back and did this after it was missed in the Secrets of the M5 video. And it's known as the disappearing road, or it was every year we went on holiday to Weston in the late 70's and now I'm in my 50s every time I use it, without fail, it's the Disappearaing road still ;)
@JoshCarterWeb
29 күн бұрын
Why is it known as that?
@vinniesuperstar8923
29 күн бұрын
@@JoshCarterWeb it's not, officially, or unofficially. It's just what we used to call it as excitable children on the way to our holiday in Weston. It has always stuck.
@keithpalmer9745
25 күн бұрын
Thank you for the wonderful views and also making me realise how old I am. I worked on the construction of this section of the M5 motorway which was built by Cementation Construction. The actual construction process of building Whynol was more complex than it would be today as there were no precast units and the whole structure was built from formwork (scaffolding and plywood moulds) , hand fixed steel reinforcement, and ready mixed concrete brought to the site from local batching plant. During construction the whole structure was quite flexible ( until the deck was complete end to end) so when the incoming loaded truckmixers braked to discharge , the viaduct would gently sway along the line of the motorway. This structure is a credit to the engineers that designed and built it and especially the level of materials quality control and testing. The farm building beneath the viaduct was used as the site offices during construction.
@AutoShenanigans
24 күн бұрын
fascinating insight, thanks!
@simplepics6687
26 күн бұрын
I love the view everytime I go down this way.
@UbiquitousRomp
19 күн бұрын
Thanks for making this, as I'm one of those who do marvel at it on every holiday trip to South Devon with boat on tow. Amazing bit of engineering and always a pleasure to drive on.
@smidsy4747
26 күн бұрын
An old job used to take me to Devon and Cornwall at least once a week. Always felt like when I crossed this section on the way back I was almost home.
@martinhowe1422
Ай бұрын
Excellent Jon, always wondered although I kinda guessed gradient was the reason. Like thousands of others, this stretch always has a positive emotive plus for me. Nice one 👍(no pasty emoji)
@lkingwell
24 күн бұрын
Awesome engineering. After driving many times on the viaduct, I recently cycled the Clevedon to Bristol cycleway along the base of the viaduct which presents a totally different perspective.
@Nobby76
Ай бұрын
Travelled that route many times, over the years (my mom lived in cornwll) about 10 years ago i was doing a filming project and had the chance to fly in a small personal plane along that very stretch of road, so i could film the car travelling along it.
@neilcobb1731
25 күн бұрын
Just down the road from me in Weston-super-Mare. It's really only from the nearby villages that you truly appreciate the engineering that went into building this section of the M5. Probably the trickiest bit of geography they had to tackle when constructing the whole route.
@stormclearer
14 күн бұрын
we were stuck in crash traffic here the other day, best spot to get stuck, the view was amazing
@TheDELAMY
23 күн бұрын
Was on that Stretch last Friday (16th) from Cornwall via A 30/ M5. It was Gridlocked Top & Lower Sections, in all took us 7 hrs to complete our Journey.
@alsner73
Ай бұрын
I adore that stretch of road, maybe because it was a sign that I'm almost home, well maybe an hour or so.
@DavidSimons-ss5kn
25 күн бұрын
Always been one of my highlights when driving north from the southwest.
@shaunwest3612
29 күн бұрын
Great video John, what an incredible piece of engineering 👌👍😀
@halcyongeezer
Ай бұрын
Definitely one of the most scenic roads in the Bristol area, especially driving southbound. Living locally we call it the Gordano Splits; never heard the name Wynhol Viaduct before. There's a Wynhol Farm underneath it, which is a much catchier name than the Gordano pre-stressed concrete trapezoidal box decks!
@MorrisPV
28 күн бұрын
I guess it's like Spaghetti Junction, which few realise is formally the Gravelly Hill Interchange...
@MrPhantom1961
23 күн бұрын
I recall visiting the area underneath the viaduct and going over one of the footbridges over the motorway just after it was built when we lived in nearby Nailsea.
@MMiniprize
25 күн бұрын
Drove on it the first time a couple weeks back, and thought why is this motorway on different levels. So this is good timing
@Snowy1of1
29 күн бұрын
Have done a few trips over this in past years, by Motobike in good weather and also awful wind and rain, that made my sphincter pucker up, not knowing which lane I was going to be in at any given time. To driving down it in a V6 Rover 827 with a Caravan on the back and a windsurfer on the roof, surfing holiday in Cornwall. Lubbly jubbly! Nice 'UP' John, great view with the drone 👍
@Beatlefan67
29 күн бұрын
A bit of motorway that I actually 'enjoy'. Thanks John - keep up the good work.
@shaun30-3-mg9zs
Ай бұрын
Hi Jon, Always wondered why this part of the M5 is split level, great video
@JulianCooke-yn5lh
21 күн бұрын
Actually, over the years I have continually noticed, and was very pleased to find your video to offer explanation and history. 50 years! Thank you.
@martinoconnor4314
23 күн бұрын
You are right, I have driven down that road hundreds of times and never even noticed.
@cuddlepaws4423
26 күн бұрын
That got our interest as we live very close. At 1:02 on the map you can see our town, Nailsea, which is about a mile from Tickenham. You can see Tickenham from Nailsea as Nailsea sits in a bowl and in the past the Clevedon to Nailsea planes were flooded by a tidal wave. When you drive out of Nailsea, you go up a road call Wraxall Hill that takes you over the top of Tickenham Ridge. Very often it is covered in mist and fog at the top. You drop back down once you get towards Portbury and, of course, out of the mist and fog. It really is very beautiful up there, with scenic walks. We have been along that stretch of motorway so many times, and it is something to see. The land falls away and stretches right out..... of course, unless it is foggy and raining.
@terrybirch239
25 күн бұрын
We have traveled over that stretch many times on the way to Cornwall. Never realised it was a viaduct! Interesting video, thanks.
@MCP53
Ай бұрын
I have travelled on it many times and always enjoyed the views 🙂
@markjlewis
Ай бұрын
I used to use it every day on my commute from South Wales to near Clevedon and I was always impressed by the route. Along with the Avonmouth Box Girder Bridge it makes for an interesting route. Times change and I now enjoy a not so interesting commute of around four miles from Cardiff to Newport.
@minimoocher822
22 күн бұрын
Before the bypass tunnel at Saltash was opened - always had a chuckle, as we inevitably sat in a long queue of static traffic - that everything came to a stop due to that single set of traffic lights in Saltash - regardless of where you had travelled from throughout the UK to get to Cornwall - via the M4, M6, M42, M5 - after travelling hundreds of miles, for hours on end - it always came to a grinding halt right at that spot lol.....
@teacarradale
Ай бұрын
I can't help finding certain views and angles of motorways utilitarian and brutalist structures like these absolutely beautiful - surely I can't be the only one?!? 🤔
@xeroniris
Ай бұрын
I found an archive video a while back showing 3d computer aided design being used to design this section of road, and describing how it was a new and innovative development. Unfortunately, I've since been unable to find it again.
@chrisbeynon8700
Ай бұрын
Love a local video, and great to see so many angles of the viaduct that I never normally see! Great video!
@firesurfer
Ай бұрын
Very nice road. It's a similar idea to the BQE in New York. It was made 75 years ago. We have to rebuild ours because it was of steel and has degraded badly.
@BessLillian
Ай бұрын
For sure one of your best videos yet!
@RaymondFunnell-bs1wl
22 күн бұрын
It is a clever piece of civil engineering I travelled over it several times
@Pixel_pixie963
Ай бұрын
Once the landscaping around a motorway is completed, they fit in well. The M2 widening saw many planted. This combined with HS1 and the area looks very green.
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