Major UK bridge to undergo renovations for first time in 30 years as drivers warned of huge delays
The Prince of Wales Bridge was first opened in 1996
PA
A major UK bridge has gone under reconstruction for the first time in nearly 30 years as vital work gets underway.
The Prince of Wales Bridge on the M4 connects drivers from England to Wales will see National Highways resurface and repair the bridge's central station with traffic measures in place until at least the end of Autumn.
Improvements also include re-waterproofing and resurfacing a one-kilometre stretch of the cable stay bridge to extend the life of the road surface.
The traffic measures include the closure of a lane on the M49 on the approach to the M4 junction 22 roundabout with drivers urged to follow signs in case of diversions.
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Drivers will be diverted onto alternative routes while work gets underway
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The direction changes hope to help traffic safely move onto the Prince of Wales Bridge and into the roadworks without too much of a delay.
National Highways stated that the diversions should help reduce congestion on the motorway, roundabout and for anyone joining the M4.
The agency said: “We’ll continue to monitor the traffic around the area and make any further changes as necessary to help keep everyone safe and moving. Thank you for patience and consideration of others during these essential works.”
“Signage on both sides of the bridge provides live travel information for the M4 and M48 to help you plan your journey. When approaching the bridge, please follow signage.”
As part of the improvements, the agency warned that there may be some overnight closures with a contraflow system being put in place.
National Highways will be resurfacing and carrying out concrete repairs on the bridge which carries the M4 over the Severn Estuary.
Once complete later this year, it hopes to improve the road surface for motorists and “ensure we keep the bridge structure in good condition by waterproofing and reduce the need for unplanned repairs moving forward”.
The work will be carried out using a mixture of overnight and lane closures, with a temporary contraflow and reduced speed limit on the bridge to keep two lanes open in each direction.
The agency hopes that by doing the work in the summer it can reduce the risk of the M48 bridge being closed due to poor weather.
The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge is one of two crossings over the River Severn which connects England to major cities in Wales.
“We aim to maintain as much capacity as possible by keeping two lanes running in both directions and offering the M48 Severn bridge as an alternative route. We need to carry out this work during times when the M48 bridge is least likely to be closed due to wind,” National Highways detailed.
The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge opened in 1996 to increase capacity and provide a more direct route between England and Newport and Cardiff.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The bridge originally charged drivers £5.60 to cross
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Previously drivers were charged £5.60 in tolls to cross the bridge into Wales, but the Welsh Government removed the measure on December 17, 2018.