M48 Bridge Closures

M48 Severn Bridge cable inspection works - 22 June 2022

National Highways operates, maintains and improves the Strategic Road Network in England. As part of this remit, we ensure that structures on our network are kept in good condition and remain safe for the public who use them.

In order to do that we need to conduct regular checks to monitor how they are performing and repair any damage that is found. One of these structures is the Severn Bridge carrying the M48 over the River Severn, where we are required to inspect the suspension cables.

To carry out these cable inspections and to ensure the safety of both the travelling public and our workforce, long-term lane closures will be put in place.

The inspection works will involve the closure of one lane westbound from the 22 June 2022 until around January 2023, and one eastbound starting from July 2022 until around November 2022, with the overall programme of works lasting for around eight months.

During the period of lane closures, vehicles over 2.9 metres wide will be prohibited from using the M48 Severn Bridge, and the bridge will also be closed totally over three weekends to enable the lifting of the inspection gantries to a high level on the suspension cable. We will communicate these well in advance.

The first full closure is planned for the weekend of 25 and 26 June, with motorists being diverted across the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

To minimise any future disruption, maintenance work will also be undertaken during the closures, including refurbishment and maintenance of many bridge expansion joints, carriageway surfacing repairs, reinstatement of some under bridge gantry bogies and wheels, sweeping and litter picking, blasting and painting of parapets and lighting column bases, weld repairs, carriageway inspections, and gulley and drain cleaning.

The full details and press release can be found here: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/south-west-news/essential-cable-inspections-for-m48-severn-bridge/

To follow the progress of the works and to keep up to date, please visit the webpage: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/the-severn-bridges/

We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum. We always aim to work to the programme, however unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions may mean changes to it.

If you would like more information about this work, please contact the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 open 24/7, who will direct your enquiry to the most appropriate person, or email: info@highwaysengland.co.uk