SEVERN BRIDGE CHANGES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND
Fri Dec 14, 2018 4:42 pm
What you need to know as Severn bridge tolls demolition starts
By Will Hayward - WalesOnline
There will be closures and delays over the weekend
If you can hear a collective cheer this morning it will likely be from commuters who regularly use the Prince of Wales Bridge.
That's because from today work has started on demolishing the toll booths on the bridge.
Tolls will no longer be charged from first thing on Monday, December 17, resulting in the potential loss of 100 jobs.
The process of removing the booths will take some time and there will be closures to the bridge as a result.
Here you'll find a comprehensive guide of everything you need to know about the times of the closures.
From 9am today three toll lanes will be closed on the Prince of Wales Bridge to allow work to start.
The M48 bridge will operate as usual.
At 8pm the Prince of Wales Bridge will be fully closed westbound and drivers will be diverted via the M48 bridge.
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16, December
This same pattern will continue over the weekend with three toll lanes closed from 6am to 8pm on Saturday and 6am to 7pm on Sunday.
Overnight the bridge will be fully closed westbound and drivers will be diverted via the M48 bridge.
Monday 17 December
On Monday 17 December, the Prince of Wales bridge will reopen with three free flowing lanes. These will be narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit to ensure the safety of drivers.
Shortly after the Prince of Wales bridge reopens toll free on 17 December, the M48 bridge will be fully closed westbound for the tolls to be dismantled - it will reopen on the morning of 19 December with two free flowing lanes. These will be narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit to ensure the safety of drivers.
Further work will be carried out in 2019 to return both routes to a three lane motorway with the usual 70mph speed limit.
Severn bridges general manager, Hannah Milliner, said: “Work is needed to make sure that drivers can safely travel across the bridges without stopping to pay a toll, or waiting for a barrier to be raised. The weekend we have chosen avoids peak period traffic and also means that the work will be complete so that drivers can make journeys free of charge over the festive period.
“We would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience while we carry out this work and to ask them to plan ahead for any journeys they are considering.
“This is a significant piece of work which is far more complex than simply removing toll booths. We want to make sure that journeys can be completed safely and free of charge by the end of the year and will then focus on the next stage of work.”
Other changes taking place include the closure of the M4 Rogiet Tag office.
By Will Hayward - WalesOnline
There will be closures and delays over the weekend
If you can hear a collective cheer this morning it will likely be from commuters who regularly use the Prince of Wales Bridge.
That's because from today work has started on demolishing the toll booths on the bridge.
Tolls will no longer be charged from first thing on Monday, December 17, resulting in the potential loss of 100 jobs.
The process of removing the booths will take some time and there will be closures to the bridge as a result.
Here you'll find a comprehensive guide of everything you need to know about the times of the closures.
From 9am today three toll lanes will be closed on the Prince of Wales Bridge to allow work to start.
The M48 bridge will operate as usual.
At 8pm the Prince of Wales Bridge will be fully closed westbound and drivers will be diverted via the M48 bridge.
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16, December
This same pattern will continue over the weekend with three toll lanes closed from 6am to 8pm on Saturday and 6am to 7pm on Sunday.
Overnight the bridge will be fully closed westbound and drivers will be diverted via the M48 bridge.
Monday 17 December
On Monday 17 December, the Prince of Wales bridge will reopen with three free flowing lanes. These will be narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit to ensure the safety of drivers.
Shortly after the Prince of Wales bridge reopens toll free on 17 December, the M48 bridge will be fully closed westbound for the tolls to be dismantled - it will reopen on the morning of 19 December with two free flowing lanes. These will be narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit to ensure the safety of drivers.
Further work will be carried out in 2019 to return both routes to a three lane motorway with the usual 70mph speed limit.
Severn bridges general manager, Hannah Milliner, said: “Work is needed to make sure that drivers can safely travel across the bridges without stopping to pay a toll, or waiting for a barrier to be raised. The weekend we have chosen avoids peak period traffic and also means that the work will be complete so that drivers can make journeys free of charge over the festive period.
“We would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience while we carry out this work and to ask them to plan ahead for any journeys they are considering.
“This is a significant piece of work which is far more complex than simply removing toll booths. We want to make sure that journeys can be completed safely and free of charge by the end of the year and will then focus on the next stage of work.”
Other changes taking place include the closure of the M4 Rogiet Tag office.
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Re: SEVERN BRIDGE CHANGES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND
Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:09 pm
Not really sure why they couldnt just close the far 3/4 lanes weeks ago and dismantle the boothes/relay road ready for it to open. They could barrier it off easily and then get on with the rest. Would have meant no closures of the bridge just slightly longer cues for a few days.
Re: SEVERN BRIDGE CHANGES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND
Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:24 pm
About time, great news for business and potential businesses looking to invest in Wales.
Thanks for the update sven
Thanks for the update sven
Re: SEVERN BRIDGE CHANGES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND
Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:35 pm
Fantastic news I want a 10yr refund.
Re: SEVERN BRIDGE CHANGES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND
Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:37 pm
thomasblue wrote:Not really sure why they couldnt just close the far 3/4 lanes weeks ago and dismantle the boothes/relay road ready for it to open. They could barrier it off easily and then get on with the rest. Would have meant no closures of the bridge just slightly longer cues for a few days.
Theres always one.
Re: SEVERN BRIDGE CHANGES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND
Fri Dec 14, 2018 6:06 pm
Dahboy wrote:thomasblue wrote:Not really sure why they couldnt just close the far 3/4 lanes weeks ago and dismantle the boothes/relay road ready for it to open. They could barrier it off easily and then get on with the rest. Would have meant no closures of the bridge just slightly longer cues for a few days.
Theres always one.
Exactly.
I’m sure they didn’t think things through, they just dived in and made the alterations without thinking much about it.
Re: SEVERN BRIDGE CHANGES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND
Fri Dec 14, 2018 10:15 pm
Nice that the Owain Glyndwr bridge is free now mind