Drivers using the M5 have been warned they will face 50mph speed limits for the next three years as major repair works begin on a key motorway bridge.
National Highways revealed it will be investing more than £50million to repair and strengthen St George's Bridge, which carries the M5 over a railway line near Junction 21 for Weston-super-Mare.
The huge project will involve lifting the bridge 72 times to replace bearings underneath the structure, which allow it to move safely under traffic and changing weather conditions.
Engineers will also carry out concrete repairs, replace bridge sections and parapets, resurface the road and improve drainage.
To keep traffic moving during the works, three lanes will remain open in both directions, although a contraflow system and 50mph speed limit will begin this autumn until late 2029.
Train services underneath the bridge will continue running throughout the work thanks to complex scaffolding and close co-operation with Network Rail.
National Highways said the scheme is designed to extend the life of the bridge and reduce the risk of emergency closures in future.
It explained that once completed, the work will create a more reliable route for drivers, businesses and freight traffic.
The next phase will include filling gaps under lanes, resurfacing sections of the motorway and introducing the contraflow system that will stay in place for the remainder of the project.
Terry Robinson, engineering lead for National Highways, said: "Many of the motorways and major A-roads we manage were built around 60 years ago and need renewing to ensure they remain fit for purpose for generations to come.
"The St George's Bridge is very heavily used and is now in need of significant work, which is vital to keep drivers safe and the route running into the future."
He also admitted the works are likely to cause disruption for motorists and advised road users to allow extra time for journeys, especially during peak hours.
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The bridge improvements form part of the Government's £27billion Road Investment Strategy, which includes £8.4billion for resurfacing roads and renewing bridges between 2026 and 2031.
As well as structural repairs, the project includes repainting steel beams underneath the bridge, waterproofing work, replacing barriers and installing a new road surface.
National Highways will also widen the northbound entry slip road by adding a second merge lane onto the M5 in a bid to cut congestion around Junction 21.
The agency added that keeping the motorway open throughout the scheme would be a key priority during the duration of the project.
National Highways said: "The refurbished bridge will last longer and reduce the need for maintenance and repairs over the decades to come.
"We're upgrading the barriers on both sides of the bridge, which will improve safety for road and rail users. We're widening the slip road by adding a second merge lane onto the M5. This will help to reduce congestion."
The next phase of overnight closures will begin in June, while southbound closures are planned from June 1 to June 26 and again from July 21 to July 24 between 10pm and 6am.
Drivers travelling through the area have been advised to plan ahead and expect delays while the long-term motorway upgrade is carried out.
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