A SPECIAL celebration was held by National Highways to mark the 50th anniversary of the M5 Wynhol Viaduct.
National Highways’ geotechnical and structures engineers recently undertook a journey to commemorate the half century milestone of the iconic motorway section in the South West.
As part of the celebration, they reached out to Neil Manners, a retired engineer of 84 years, who played a significant role in the landmark's construction.
Known for his interest in this split-level motorway between junctions 19 and 20 in North Somerset, Mr Manners had a rare opportunity to delve into the current maintenance routine carried out by National Highways, the company responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads.
Following a visit to the National Highways’ operational base at Aztec West, near Bristol, he uncovered the modern, digital methods used to maintain the viaduct.
Mr Manners said: "As an engineer, I worked on a number of road infrastructure projects across the world and I certainly have some interest in the South West of England, having been involved in construction of the M5 Wynhol Viaduct and the Almondsbury Interchange.
"It was great to get together with the team looking after all these structures in the South West and to learn about the current engineering methods.
"It was really interesting to see how it’s being maintained today."
Jon Durnell, Principal Engineer and Geologist for National Highways’ Geotechnical Asset Management team, commented on the experience: "It was fantastic meeting with Neil and fascinating to learn a little more about the construction, engineering methods, and the history of this iconic landmark.
"The Wynhol Cuttings and Viaduct represents a landmark structure across the Strategic Road Network.
“Given the age of the viaduct, we’re going to need to do more work on the slopes and structures of the motorway in the coming years, and that’s something we’re looking at and preparing for now."
He added: “We presented a lot of design material to Neil, and it was really nice to share all the latest innovations and methods as we look forward to the next 50 years.”
National Highways carries out regular maintenance of the viaduct, aiming to preserve it for future generations.
An inspection regime is in place that includes a visual inspection every two years paired with a more detailed review every six years, ensuring potential vulnerabilities are promptly detected.
Terry Robinson, National Highways’ South West Engineering Team Manager, said: "Through a programme of structural inspections, investigations and assessments we ensure that substandard and potentially vulnerable structures are identified, safeguarding measures adopted, and like the Wynhol Viaduct, are fully maintained for many years to come."
National Highways is responsible for nearly 50,000 geotechnical assets on its strategic road network, including 2,176 structures and 6,219 earthworks assets in the South West alone.
It also oversees the maintenance of 9,200 square miles of road, 615 miles long, comprising 70 per cent A road and 30 per cent motorway, set in both urban and rural backdrops.
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