Motorists using the M5 in the Burnham-On-Sea area faced severe delays on Saturday (June 29th) after the motorway was closed due to a technical fault that left a power line hanging low across both carriageways, as pictured here.
Long queues built up as traffic took alternative routes as Highways England put a full closure in place between Burnham-On-Sea’s junction 22 and Bridgwater’s junction 23.
Western Power Distribution says the problem was caused by a broken insulator, which had led to a cable hanging lower than normal.
It added that the cable did not fall on to the motorway and has since been replaced, a spokesman said.
The work was completed by 1pm, with the M5 motorway re-opening at that time, but queuing traffic took a long time to clear.
The A38, which had been used as a diversion, was severely congested between Highbridge and Pawlett with motorists facing long delays.
