Severn Bridge to have weight restrictions

The restrictions start May 27 when heavy goods vehicles must use the nearby cable-stayed M4 motorway Prince of Wales Bridge between England and Wales.
By David Arminas April 15, 2025 Read time: 2 mins
Since the bridge opened nearly 60 years ago, the size and weight of heavy goods vehicles have increased significantly, some increasing rising from 22 tonnes to 44 tonnes (image courtesy National Highways)

England’s road agency National Highways is introducing a 7.5 tonne weight limit for vehicles using the Severn Bridge after inspections showed deterioration to the supporting cables.

The suspension Severn Bridge, which opened in 1966, carries the M48 motorway over the Severn River which separates England and Wales. National Highways said there has been concern about the state of the cables since inspections in 2022 and 2023. Further laboratory testing has revealed that the main cables are deteriorating.

The weight restrictions come into force May 27 which means heavy goods vehicles will have to use the nearby 30-year-old cable-stayed M4 motorway Prince of Wales Bridge to travel between England and Wales. The weight restriction will remain in place for an estimated 12 to 18 months, depending on further investigations and while National Highways develops and installs a medium-term solution.

National Highways also said that it is considering installing automatic number plate recognition (APNR) to support enforcement of the new weight restriction.

According to the road agency, the weight restriction will remain in place for 12 to 18 months, depending on further investigations and while National Highways develops and installs a medium-term solution.

“While the bridge remains safe, it was not designed and built for today’s levels or weight of traffic,” said Chris Pope, programme delivery manager for National Highways. “Vehicles have got heavier and traffic levels have increased significantly over the last 60 years putting greater load on the cables. “As with all our structures, we will continue to monitor the bridge and ensure it remains safe for users.”

The Severn Bridge carried around 32,000 vehicles daily in 2024, 3,270 of which were heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, meaning around 10 percent of traffic will be diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge once the restrictions are in place.

The size and weight of heavy goods vehicles - trucks - have increased significantly due to evolving transport demands, some rising from 22 tonnes to 44 tonnes. Since the tolls were removed on the bridge in 2018 there has been a 34% increase in traffic and these changes mean a substantial increase in weight over the bridge, for which it was not designed, noted National Highways.
 

Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • AIA’s UK ‘crumbling roads’ survey prompts call for greater Government funding
    March 14, 2013
    The annual national survey of UK local road network condition and funding claims there is a crumbling road crisis of increasing concern, prompting renewed calls for increased and longer term Government funding. Commissioned by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), the 18th Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) Survey was completed by 75% of councils across England and Wales and reports that the number of potholes filled over the last year rose to over two million - an increase of 29% on the previou
    Read More
  • IBI’s Routemapper charts new territory with Highways England
    September 14, 2016
    Mapping the asset High-speed data collection just got faster for England’s newly created strategic roads operator Highways England’s establishment as a publicly held company in 2015 created a need for a highly accurate asset inventory. This was potentially very costly and had serious safety implications. As well as its relationships with numerous managing agents and contractors, assets include 35,300km of highway, 12,100km of earthworks, 23,200km of safety fences, 150,000 technology assets and sig
    Read More
  • Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh benefiting from major transport investment
    September 9, 2013
    Saudi Arabia is undergoing a series of upgrades to its transport network in a bid to improve Traffic flow rates and boost safety - Mike Woof reports. The massive growth in the use of motor transport worldwide since the start of the 20th century has transformed every country on the planet. But perhaps no country has changed more dramatically than Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil producer. At the start of the 20th century Saudi Arabia’s population was small and the country had few industries while it is
    Read More
  • Tackling the UK's traffic congestion
    February 28, 2012
    The biggest problem on UK roads is congestion, and there is no shortage of ideas as to how it should be tackled. Patrick Smith reports. Congestion (and how to relieve it), along with safety, are among the top priorities facing those responsible for looking after the UK's roads. Road pricing, car-share lanes, greener vehicle initiatives and alternative methods of transport such as buses, trams and rail are all part of the approach, but prior to the current economic climate the nation's love affair with the c
    Read More

Highlighted Content