Key Points
- Northbound motorists traveling along the M5 motorway are expected to encounter delays of up to 90 minutes as a result of the transport of three huge industrial silos.
- These silos weigh up to 25 tonnes and will be transported by Alleys, a special transport company from Avonmouth docks to the Midlands.
- The unusual load transport will be carried out through three different operations taking two days each and will commence on Wednesday, September 30th.
- Police forces from Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, and the West Midlands will accompany the convoys in their travels.
- The vehicles will move at a restricted speed of 20-25mph in a single lane that can be overtaken, and will be required to come to a halt at some point to lower loads while passing through some bridges.
Bristol, (Bristol Express News) September 26, 2026 – As reported by William Telford, Senior Reporter and Business Specialist at Bristol Post, motorists have been warned that there could be “delays of up to 90 minutes when three huge silos are transported from docks near Bristol over the next few weeks.”
National Highways has stated that the abnormal load movements will begin at Avonmouth docks and travel northbound up the M5 towards the Midlands. According to the publication, journey times will be heavily affected, and drivers are strongly advised to plan alternative routes or adjust their travel schedules. The transporting vehicles will travel at restricted speeds of between 20mph and 25mph, and only one lane will be available for normal traffic to overtake the convoy.
Furthermore, as noted by William Telford of Bristol Post, the vehicles will have to “stop and lower their loads when they meet bridges, which could lead to lengthy delays as traffic stops.”
Which dates and times are affected by the silo transportation?
The complex transport operation is being handled by Alleys, a specialist transport company based in Warwickshire, shifting the three large silos, each weighing up to 25 tonnes. The movements will be escorted by Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, and the West Midlands police forces as they pass through each region.
As detailed by William Telford of Bristol Post, there will be three separate movements in total, each taking two days to complete:
- Day one: The load will travel between M5 junction 18, at Avonmouth, and junction 8, near Worcester.
- Day two: The load will travel between M5 junction 8 and M5 junction 2, in the Midlands.
The schedule for departures from Avonmouth is as follows:
- 6.00 pm on Wednesday, September 30.
- 10.00 am on Thursday, October 8.
- 8.30 am on Sunday, October 11.
In addition, West Midlands Police will escort the load between M5 junction 8 and M5 junction 2 starting from 4.00 am on:
- Friday, October 2.
- Friday, October 9.
- Monday, October 12.
How has National Highways responded to the logistical challenge?
Detailing the traffic management strategy, a National Highways spokesperson stated, as reported by William Telford of Bristol Post, that
“Northbound journeys on the M5 will be directly affected. Only one lane will be available northbound for vehicles overtaking.”
The spokesperson added:
“Due to the height of the load, the vehicles will travel between 20 and 25mph. They will need to stop and lower their loads at certain structures along the route. When this is required, northbound traffic will be held.”
Consequently, National Highways expects significant delays, estimated to be between 60 and 90 minutes. To help mitigate the buildup of congestion, the transport vehicles are scheduled to pull over at appropriate locations along the route whenever possible to allow queued traffic to pass.
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Background of the Particular Development
Abnormal load movements of this scale require meticulous logistical planning and inter-agency coordination between highway authorities, private transport contractors, and multiple regional police forces. Transporting oversized industrial components, such as 25-tonne silos, often necessitates slow-speed transit and temporary traffic holds due to height and width clearance restrictions on major motorway infrastructure, particularly beneath older bridge structures. National Highways routinely issues advanced warnings for such operations to safeguard road users and minimize economic and travel disruption across major freight corridors like the M5.
How This Development Can Affect Motorists and Freight Operators
This prolonged series of abnormal load movements will significantly impact commuter journeys, commercial logistics, and freight operators relying on the northbound M5 corridor during the affected dates. With anticipated delays stretching up to 90 minutes and restricted overtaking lanes, supply chain schedules through the South West and the Midlands face potential bottlenecks. Furthermore, displaced traffic attempting to bypass the motorway restrictions may cause secondary congestion on local A-roads and rural detours, increasing travel times for everyday road users in Gloucestershire, Bristol, and surrounding regions.
