M5 motorway safety changes made

Changes costing £350,000 have been made to Jct 12 of the M5 at Quedgeley to stop traffic being forced to queue on the motorway before leaving northbound.

In 2005 two people from Cambridgeshire died on the single lane exit. At an inquest into their deaths the coroner said changes needed to be made.

The Highways Agency has now extended the slip road onto the hard shoulder.

Sensors have also been placed in the road which will trigger new signs warning drivers of queues ahead.

Callers to BBC Radio Gloucestershire earlier in the year had expressed concerns over the junction.

"I used to be a lorry driver and I've come off many junctions but this one is just stupid," said one man.

"It's extremely dangerous for those people who're waiting to get off going north, trying to get past - it's a potential death trap," said a woman.

Junction 12 was overhauled in 2002 with the aim of easing congestion and improving safety. But during rush hour periods traffic leaving the junction was forced to queue on the motorway.