Travellers are set for further disruption with the M48 Severn Bridge to be fully closed over the same weekend as widespread rail strikes. The M48 Severn Bridge will shut in both directions this weekend for repair work which has been ongoing since the summer, National Highways has confirmed.
The crossing will close at 7pm on Friday, September 30, and reopen at 6am on Monday, October 3, in order to move two cable inspection gantries from the westbound to the eastbound side of the carriageway. Work has been ongoing on the bridge, which was opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1966, since June.
It means is likely to be further disruption for travellers with many train services in Wales not running on Saturday. Passengers have been warned that the majority of train services across the Wales and Borders network will not run on Saturday, October 1, and Saturday, October 8, due to industrial action across Network Rail and a number of other train operators. While Transport for Wales is not directly involved in the action people are being warned to expect very limited rail services and asked not to travel by train if possible. You can read more about the train strikes here.
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National Highways has confirmed that a weekend diversion route will be in place via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge this weekend. The eastbound footpath and cycle track will be open as normal.
In June work began on the M48 Severn Bridge with a full weekend closure taking place on the weekend of June 25 and the second in early July. Work on the bridge includes refurbishment and maintenance of many bridge expansion joints, carriageway surfacing repairs, blasting and painting of parapets and lighting column bases, and gulley and drain cleaning. The road on the M48 Severn Bridge is much narrower than a typical motorway giving less space to carry out maintenance. This means it is closed more often than most other motorways.
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