Heavy trucks banned from using Severn Crossing

Trucks weighting over 7.5 tonnes are now banned from using the M48 Severn Crossing to minimise further damage to the bridge. Following safety inspections, deterioration to the supporting cables was identified.

Heavy trucks will now need to use the Prince of Wales bridge to travel between England and Wales. Two lanes on the M48 bridge will remain open to other vehicles, to ensure the safety of the bridge and reduce the load on the cables.

The HGV ban will need to remain in place for around 12 to 18 months, depending on further investigations and while National Highways develops and installs a medium-term solution, which will help manage the number of vehicles over 7.5t using the bridge.

Chris Pope, programme delivery manager at National Highways, said: “Safety is our number one priority and this weight restriction is about future-proofing the bridge for years to come. While 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 a 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 roughly 32,000 vehicles a day in 2024, 3,270 of which were vehicles more than 7.5t, meaning around 10% of traffic will be diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge now restrictions are in place.

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