Severn Bridge reopens with 50mph speed and weight limits
All lanes on the M48 are open but a 50mph speed cap and 7.5‑tonne weight limit stay as engineers monitor the new surface and prepare a HGV control system.
The M48 Severn Bridge has been fully reopened to traffic, but a 50mph speed limit and a 7.5‑tonne weight restriction will remain in force.
National Highways confirmed that all lanes are now open, yet the temporary limits will stay while engineers continue to assess the newly laid surface.
The 50mph cap and the 7.5‑tonne HGV ceiling are being retained, and the agency thanked haulage operators and local businesses for their ongoing cooperation.
Officials say that adherence to the limits has helped reduce safety risks, with heavy‑goods vehicle numbers remaining low on the crossing.
The resurfacing trial, which began in August, involved stripping a 200‑metre stretch of the road, waterproofing the deck and inspecting the underlying steel structure.
Engineers repaired damaged areas before fitting new waterproofing membranes and a mastic‑asphalt surfacing.
The first section of the new surface was laid in early September and has been monitored regularly against required standards.
Despite the completion of the resurfacing works, long‑term structural requirements mean the speed and weight restrictions will continue for the foreseeable future.
Plans are now advancing to restore full HGV access through a new management system that will regulate traffic flow across the bridge.
Construction has begun on the technology that will control HGV movements, including trenches and ducts between the A403 Aust roundabout, the M48 westbound slip road and the former toll plaza.
National Highways expects the system to be operational by the end of January 2027, pending testing and safety approval.
The scheme forms part of a wider programme aimed at protecting the bridge’s future, just weeks after it marked its 60th anniversary.
Magor East and Undy councillors Angela Sandles and John Crook have been updating residents, warning drivers they may notice changes in the resurfaced carriageway’s sound and feel while monitoring continues.
Some local residents say they have seen little work while crossing the bridge and complain the project is taking “a very long time”.
Motorists are also being warned of planned overnight closures: eastbound traffic will be halted from 20:00 to 06:00 until 2 October, with further closures scheduled for 5‑7 October and 9‑10 October.
National Highways urges drivers to check for planned roadworks before travelling.
The forthcoming HGV management system will employ traffic lights, real‑time weight monitoring and ANPR cameras, limiting the number of heavy‑goods vehicles to no more than ten in either direction at any one time.
Until the new controls are fully tested, the temporary speed and weight limits will remain in place, officials say.