Two lanes of the northbound were closed on Friday May 2 as a result of the repairs, causing delays of up to 50 minutes.  

READ MORE: Heavy traffic on the M5 in North Somerset as road closes

READ MORE: Heavy traffic on the M5 as all lanes stopped

The road was closed between Junction 19, near Portishead, and Junction 18 in Avonmouth shortly after 11am. 

There were reports of long delays in the area, with congestion stretching to Junction 20 near Clevedon. 

The emergency repairs were carried out with lanes three and four remaining open, and the road was fully reopened by about 1pm. 

Defective expansion joints on a bridge can lead to structural issues and safety hazards.  

The corrosion that they cause can lead to a weakening of the concrete of the bridge, increasing the risk of damage to its structure.