Highways England has launched a £13m programme to undertake bridge works around junction 11 on the M5 in Gloucestershire.

The investment will be used to improve the safety and reliability of Gloucestershire bridges.

Slated to begin this month, the work is expected to continue until August next year.

"The programme will maintain the integrity of four M5 bridges, avoiding more costly and disruptive repairs in the future."

Highways England area manager Dave Sledge said: "The programme will maintain the integrity of four M5 bridges, avoiding more costly and disruptive repairs in the future.

"While we appreciate there is a significant amount of work to complete we are doing everything we can to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum by keeping three lanes open in both directions for the vast majority of the time and undertaking works overnight."

The scope of the project includes a full bridge deck renovation, as well as waterproofing of the Cheltenham Gloucester Road underbridge.

It also includes bridge joint replacements and central reserve barrier works.

The investment will also be used to replace the weak bridge piers and foundations at Bamfurlong Lane Bridge, and Golden Valley North and South Bridges, caused by the thaumasite sulphate attack.

Several slip roads, lanes and full carriageways will be required to close throughout the month, traffic management programmes will need to be put in place while the work is undertaken.

As part of the project, three narrow lanes will be constructed in both directions running between junctions 10 and 11.

While the work of installing these lanes will be carried out next month, a temporary 50mph speed limit will be set to ensure the safety of road workers, as well as motorists.