National Highways plans to remove the current HGV restrictions on the M48 Severn Crossing from next autumn through a 'medium-term solution' that will 'ensure there are never too many' heavy vehicles on the crossing at any one time.
Since May this year, only vehicles below 7.5 tonnes in weight have been able to use the crossing due to deterioration of the supporting cables. HGVs weighing over 7.5 tonnes are currently diverted onto the M4 Prince of Wales bridge.
Under plans announced today by National Highways, from next autumn HGVs will leave the M48 at Junctions 1 (westbound) and Junction 2 (eastbound) via the off-slip roads with re-entry controlled by signals on the on-slips.
The national roads operator added: 'For the vast majority of the time the system would operate ‘freely' to release HGVs so they are spread out across the length of the bridge and not concentrated together, creating very little delay to HGV or car traffic. The system can also be used to keep HGVs off the bridge if there is a significant incident in the area.'
Alan Feist, programme leader for National Highways, said: 'Whilst the bridge remains safe, it was not designed and built for today's levels or weight of traffic. Vehicles have got heavier, and traffic levels have increased significantly over the last 60 years, putting greater load on the cables.
'We appreciate that this has been disruptive for businesses and hauliers, but we have been working at pace to reach this solution and are pleased to be on track to get HGVs back onto the M48 Severn Bridge next year.'
Welsh transport secretary Ken Skates said the Welsh Government would 'continue to engage with the team as measures to address a longer-term solution for the Severn Bridge weight limit are explored'.
The M48 Severn Bridge carried roughly 32,000 vehicles a day in 2024, 3,270 of which were over 7.5t, meaning around 10% of traffic is currently diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
Since the bridge opened nearly 60 years ago, the size and weight of HGVs have increased significantly due to evolving transport demands, with some rising from 22 tonnes to 44 tonnes.
Traffic numbers have also increased and since the tolls were removed on the bridge in 2018 there has been a 34% rise in traffic.
The M48 Severn Bridge has undergone several major assessments and interventions related to its main suspension cables due to concerns about corrosion and strength reduction.
The M48 Severn Bridge remains open to all emergency vehicles, scheduled buses, coaches, gritters and recovery vehicles. If there is an unplanned closure of the Prince of Wales bridge, vehicles over 7.5t need to follow the official diversion route via the M5 and the M50.
