Severn crossing

Severn crossing is a term used to refer to the two motorway crossings over the River Severn estuary between England and Wales. The two crossings are:

• The Severn Bridge (Welsh: Pont Hafren)
• The Second Severn Crossing (Welsh: Ail Groesfan Hafren)

The first motorway suspension bridge was inaugurated on 8 September 1966, and the newer cable-stayed bridge, a few miles to the south, was inaugurated on 5 June 1996. The Second Severn Crossing marks the upper limit of the Severn Estuary.

The two Severn crossings are regarded as the main crossing points from England into South Wales. Prior to 1966 road traffic between the southern counties of Wales and the southern counties of England either had to travel via Gloucester or take the Aust Ferry, which ran roughly along the line of the Severn Bridge, from Old Passage near Aust to Beachley. The ferry ramps at Old Passage and Beachley are still visible.

Tolls are collected on both crossings from vehicles travelling in a westward direction only. As of January 2011^[update], the toll for a car is £5.70.

Contents 1 Railway crossings 2 Future 3 See also 4 External links

Railway crossings

The Severn Tunnel, carrying mainline trains under the Severn, follows a very similar route to the Second Severn Crossing.

From 1879 until its collapse in 1960 the Severn Railway Bridge also carried trains across the Severn from Sharpness to Lydney.

Future

A proposed Severn Barrage could constitute a third crossing if one is ever built. It has been suggested that such a crossing could carry a road crossing. Until recently, a rail link over a barrage had been ruled out because it would contain a huge set of shipping locks that the rails would need to traverse. It has since been suggested that a rail bridge could carry smaller, modern trains over the locks, so a rail link is possible.

However, a report by the Department of Transport as part of the 2008-2010 Severn Tidal Power feasibilty study carried out by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, concluded that there was not any current need for new transport links, either by road or rail. Given that the UK Government opted not to pursue a tidal scheme in the Severn Estuary following the completion of the feasibility study, the chances of a third crossing anytime in the near future seem doubtful.

See also

• Crossings of the River Severn
• Aust Severn Powerline Crossing

External links

• Severn River Crossing PLC, the bridges' operating company.

River Severn, Great Britain Administrative areas Powys Shropshire Worcestershire Gloucestershire Monmouthshire South Gloucestershire Bristol North Somerset Somerset Newport Cardiff Vale of Glamorgan Settlements Llanidloes Newtown Welshpool Shrewsbury Ironbridge Bridgnorth Bewdley Stourport Worcester Tewkesbury Gloucester Berkeley Chepstow Avonmouth Major tributaries River Vyrnwy River Tern Cound Brook River Stour River Teme Warwickshire Avon River Wye Bristol Avon River Usk Flows into Severn Estuary Bristol Channel Linked canals Staffordshire and Worcestershire Worcester and Birmingham Droitwich Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Thames and Severn Coalport Gloucester and Sharpness Stroudwater Navigation Coombe Hill Major crossings Welsh Bridge English Bridge The Iron Bridge Mythe Bridge Over Bridge Severn Bridge Aust Severn Powerline Crossing Severn Tunnel Second Severn Crossing All crossings of the River Severn Longest UK rivers Severn Thames Trent Great Ouse Wye Ure/Ouse Tay Spey Clyde Tweed Avon Nene Eden Dee