This is the bridge on the M4 that takes you from England into Wales (and obviously the other way); it’s also known as the Second Severn crossing.
The bridge was opened in 1996 by the present Prince of Wales (Charles) and cost approximately £330 million.
Here’s the technical bit - the bridge has three principal sections – a 25 span viaduct on the English side of length 2,103 m (6,900 ft; 1.307 mi), a 24 span viaduct of length 2,077 m (6,814 ft; 1.291 mi) on the Welsh side and the bridge itself, a 948 m (3,110 ft; 0.589 mi) structure with a 37 m (121 ft) navigational clearance, giving a total length of 5,128 m (16,824 ft; 3.186 mi). The central section, called the Shoots Bridge, is of cable-stayed design and the central span (between the bridge pylons) is 456 metres (1,496 ft) in length. The approach viaducts are of a segmental bridge design. The crossing forms a very slight "S" curve – the roadway has an approximate east-west alignment at each of the portals, while the central bridge follows an alignment approximately WNW to ESE.
Up until 31 December 2018 you had to pay a toll of £6.70 for a car (more for a lorry, less for a motorbike) to get into Wales; it was, bizarrely, free to get out back into England. The toll was abolished on 01 January 2019 and the toll booths were removed in the space of a few months. I reckon the total tolls received between 1996-2018 have more than covered the cost
I’ve been meaning to find my way to the shoreline directly under the bridge for over a year and today managed it. Today’s weather has been overcast and very muggy; certainly not the weather conducive to decent photography. I shall certainly be returning, at sunset when the skies are clearer.
Thank you for your views, comments and favs on yesterday’s offering. Much appreciated.
What a magnificent bridge. Glad the tolls have ceased. We have so many toll roads here in both Sydney and Melbourne, it costs a fortune to travel long distance these days as it is without the addition of toll charges. fav
Thanks for the info. We have bridges that only charge one direction. They figure most people go both ways I guess, but the tolls never go away only go up.
