Weight restrictions to be introduced on M48 Severn Bridge

Weight restrictions for heavy-goods vehicles will be introduced on the M48 Severn crossing in a bid to future-proof the bridge.

National Highways said only heavy-goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes in weight will be able to use the M48 Severn Bridge from 27 May, with those over the threshold directed towards the M4 Prince of Wales bridge instead.

The weight restriction, which will remain in place for 12-18 months, comes after safety inspections found the bridge’s main cables are deteriorating.

Chris Pope, programme delivery manager for National Highways, said: “While the bridge remains safe, it was not designed and built for today’s levels or weight of traffic.”

He added: “Vehicles have got heavier and traffic levels have increased significantly over the past 60 years, putting greater load on the cables.

“Continued use of the bridge by heavier heavy vehicles could ultimately see it closed to all traffic. We are acting now to prevent this from happening.”

The M48 Severn Bridge, which was opened nearly 60 years ago and is a major route for those travelling between Wales and England, carried roughly 32,000 vehicles a day in 2024 – 3,270 of which were heavy-goods vehicles.

Once the restrictions are in place National Highways said around 10 per cent of traffic will be diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales bridge.

The M48 Severn Bridge will remain open to all emergency vehicles, scheduled buses, coaches, gritters and recovery vehicles.

During an unplanned closure of the Prince of Wales Bridge, vehicles more than 7.5t will need to follow diversions via the M5 and M50.

National Highways also said Automatic Number Plate Recognition (APNR) cameras are being explored to support enforcement of the new weight restriction.