The Severn Bridges

Our bridges across the River Severn connect England and Wales, providing a vital link for businesses and communities. Here you can find information about current and planned closures of the bridges.

The Severn Bridges
Open - M4 Prince Of Wales Bridge (both directions)
Open - M48 Severn Bridge (both directions)

Scheduled maintenance

Like any major structure, the bridges need frequent maintenance to keep them in a safe and serviceable condition. Sometimes we need to close a bridge to keep road users and our team safe while we work.

The road surface on the M48 Severn Bridge is much narrower than a typical motorway, so there is less space for us to carry out maintenance. This means that we need to close the Severn Bridge more often than most other motorways.

We understand that these closures cause disruption to road users and local communities, and we’re striving to keep the bridges open as often as we can.

Our work isn’t always visible. We may be carrying out repairs underneath the road surface, or waiting for construction materials to dry or set before continuing our work.

Planned closures in the next 7 days

If we’re planning to close either of the bridges in the next seven days, you’ll find further details below. For other closures on the network, including the approaches to the bridges, please visit our daily closures page. 

For the week 20/08/2026 to 26/08/2026

M48 Severn Bridge resurfacing trial - Saturday 1 August to Sunday 27 September

We’re resurfacing a 200-metre section of the westbound bridge carriageway. 

This is a trial to learn whether resurfacing by machine can meet the same weight limits previously achieved by hand.

We'll inspect the surface to ensure it remains sound. If the trial is successful, we’ll resurface both carriageways in 2027-28. 

We'll keep disruption to a minimum by working over summer. The bridge is mainly a commuter route - summer is the quietest time of the year for traffic.

From 8pm Saturday 8 August until 8pm Friday 18 September 2026, we'll use a temporary contraflow system:

  • One narrow lane in each direction will run on the eastbound carriageway
  • There'll be a 30mph limit and average speed cameras. 

To set up the contraflow, we'll need:

  • overnight closures
  • lane closures
  • 24 hour weekend closures

We'll maintain access to Chepstow throughout works. 

During full closures, we'll divert traffic by the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

Closures

Open each section for more details.

One single narrow 3m wide lane running in each direction on the eastbound carriageway. Also:

  • 30mph limit in place and average speed cameras
  • footpath closed on westbound side
  • footpath on eastbound side remains open

  • closure of westbound and eastbound carriageways
  • diversion by M4 Prince of Wales Bridge

  • overnight eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure
  • 30mph limit in place

  • daytime eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure
  • 30mph limit in place
  • full overnight closure of westbound carriageway and lane 2 closure eastbound

Westbound diversion by M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

  • eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure (midnight-8pm). 30mph limit in place
  • full overnight closure of westbound carriageway and lane 2 closure eastbound (8pm-6am)

Westbound diversion by M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

  • eastbound lane 2 closure (midnight-8pm). 30mph limit in place 
  • full overnight closure of eastbound carriageway and lane 2 closure westbound (8pm-6am) 

Eastbound diversion by M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. 

From 6am contraflow removed and road fully re-opened.

High winds traffic management

Why do we close the M48 Severn Bridge during windy weather?

Our number one priority is that everybody stays safe, whether they're a member of the public or part of our workforce.

During windy conditions, the Severn Estuary can funnel strong gusts across the bridges, which can be hazardous to traffic.

This is why we sometimes need to restrict access to the Severn Bridge for the safety of our road users. When this happens, we divert traffic on to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge has barriers which reduce the effects of wind. The older M48 Severn Bridge doesn't have these barriers.

When do we close the M48 Severn Bridge for windy weather?

When we expect gusts above 40 knots (46mph), we close the M48 Severn Bridge to all traffic until wind speeds have dropped.

If wind speeds exceed 70 knots (80mph), both bridges are closed.

Traffic can still travel between England and Wales by following a diversion using the M5, M50, A40 and A449.

Why is the M48 bridge being closed more frequently?

Our traffic officers previously filtered vulnerable westbound traffic (lorries, motorbikes, and high-sided vehicles) during high winds.

This involved fewer full closures of the bridge. However, it meant that traffic officers had to physically filter vulnerable vehicles on site to stop them travelling on the bridge.

Working in high wind, as well as poor weather and low visibility, became increasingly hazardous for our teams. This is why we decided on safety grounds to stop filtering high sided vehicles and motorcycles during high winds.

Why has this procedure suddenly changed?

We haven’t filtered traffic on the M48 Severn Bridge since late 2019 as Covid19 work restrictions prevented us from filtering traffic in windy weather in 2020 and 2021.

After we reviewed our high wind traffic management plans in 2022, we decided to stop filtering completely for safety reasons.

As part of this review, we adjusted the wind thresholds for closing the bridge:

  • 30 knots – 40mph speed limits in place
  • 35 knots – leeward lanes closed with red X signs
  • 40 knots – bridge closed
  • 70 knots both bridges closed

Why is this happening when the wind doesn’t feel strong?

We appreciate it's frustrating when it doesn’t seem necessary to close the bridge, but our decisions are based on robust information.

We use dedicated forecasts and monitoring equipment on the bridge itself. These are more accurate than online forecasts or wind speeds measured in neighbouring communities

During a bridge closure for high winds, will the foot and cycle path be closed too?

We don’t routinely close the shared paths during wind events.

We may need to close them if there is:

  • a critical incident on the bridge
  • a severe storm.

Otherwise shared paths will remain open.

Background

The M48 Severn Bridge was built in the 1960s, replacing the ferry service which had operated across the Severn for many years. It consists of four separate structures – the Aust Viaduct, the Severn Bridge, the Beachley Viaduct and the Wye Bridge.

The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge opened in 1996, increasing capacity and providing a more direct route between England and the cities of Newport and Cardiff.

Tolls to cross the bridges into Wales were in place until 2018 before being removed.

Keep in touch

Stay up to date with information about the bridges by checking the Severn Bridges X feed. 

M4 bridge
Feedback