Severn crossing

This article is about the motorway crossings of the river. For other uses, see List of crossings of the River Severn.

Map showing the Severn road and rail crossings, the Severn Bridge (top right), Severn Tunnel and Prince of Wales Bridge (Second Severn Crossing) (bottom left)
Aerial view of both Severn bridges. The older Severn Bridge is in the foreground and the newer Prince of Wales Bridge in the background.

Severn crossing is a term used to refer to the two motorway crossings over the River Severn estuary between England and Wales operated by England's National Highways. The two crossings are:

The first motorway suspension bridge was inaugurated on 8 September 1966, and the newer cable-stayed bridge, a few miles to the south, was inaugurated on 5 June 1996. The Second Severn Crossing marks the upper limit of the Severn Estuary and was officially renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge on 2 July 2018.[2] From 1966 to 1996, the first bridge, from Aust on the English side to Chepstow, carried the M4 motorway. On completion of the Second Severn crossing, the motorway crossing the first bridge was renamed the M48.[3]

The two Severn crossings are regarded as the main crossing points from England into South Wales. Before 1966 road traffic between the southern counties of Wales and the southern counties of England had either to travel via Gloucester or to take the Aust Ferry, which ran roughly along the line of the Severn Bridge, from Old Passage near Aust to Beachley.[1] The ferry ramps at Old Passage and Beachley are still visible.

Until 17 December 2018, tolls were collected on both crossings from vehicles travelling in a westward direction only; the toll for small vehicles was £5.60. The Severn Crossing reverted to public ownership on 8 January 2018, run by National Highways.[2]

  1. ^ a b "Severn Crossings". Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b Shuttleworth, Peter (16 December 2018). "Severn tolls' final day after 800 years". BBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. ^ "The Motorway Archive: M4 Second Severn Crossing". Iht.org. 28 April 1992. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.