Morning HGV Restrictions Could Remain on Severn Bridge After Weight Limit Lifted

New restrictions on heavy goods vehicles using the Severn Bridge could be introduced next year when the current blanket weight limit is removed, according to National Highways.

Since the end of May, vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes have been prohibited from using the M48 Severn Bridge between Chepstow and Aust due to safety concerns. As a result, lorries have been diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge when travelling between Wales and England.

National Highways has previously confirmed that an interim solution could allow HGVs to return to the bridge as early as October. This “medium-term” arrangement would involve lorries waiting on a slip road on the English side of the crossing and only being allowed to proceed once signalled, enabling traffic to move across the bridge in a controlled way.

Speaking at a Monmouthshire County Council scrutiny meeting, National Highways programme leader Alan Heist said traffic modelling had shown that a peak-time ban on HGVs would still be required. He explained that the restriction would likely apply during weekday mornings, with the most restrictive scenario running from 7am to 10am, while a more limited option could see lorries barred between 7.30am and 9.30am.

Mr Heist said the modelling indicated that introducing a morning HGV ban would not worsen traffic conditions in the Chepstow area compared with the current situation. He added that freight operators were unlikely to queue at Junction 2 of the M48 in Chepstow, as most would instead opt to divert via the M4. “No operator will want to park up for two hours,” he said.

Businesses based at the Newhouse Farm Industrial Estate in Chepstow are said to support the proposed peak-time restriction, citing concerns about congestion affecting staff commuting by car.

Councillors were also told that compliance with the existing weight restriction has improved significantly. After initial issues, enforcement has been strengthened through the use of weigh-in-motion sensors and automatic number plate recognition cameras. National Highways confirmed that loading on the bridge is currently within acceptable safety limits.

Planning for the medium-term solution is continuing, including contingency measures in case of signalling failures. Mr Heist said costs are expected to be at the lower end of earlier estimates and expressed confidence that the system could be operational by October.

However, the changes will require approval through a statutory instrument in Parliament, which Mr Heist described as the biggest remaining risk.

Looking further ahead, the long-term fix is expected to involve strengthening the suspension bridge by installing additional cables. These would be tested and assessed before being connected to the existing cable system at the top of the towers, allowing the load to be shared more effectively.