**M4 Disruption: Prince of Wales Bridge Closures to Impact Motorists for Weeks**
Motorists are being urged to brace themselves for significant travel disruption on the M4 as the Prince of Wales Bridge, which spans the Severn Estuary between England and Wales, prepares for a series of closures and extensive repair works. National Highways has confirmed that the next phase of essential maintenance will require a mixture of overnight closures, lane restrictions and a reduced speed limit – all set to affect journeys for several months.
The bridge, a pivotal gateway carrying thousands of vehicles daily, is to undergo final resurfacing and waterproofing of a 1km stretch across its cable-stayed section. This project, according to National Highways, is designed to ensure its long-term safety and reliability. However, the scale of the works means that motorists will need to plan ahead and factor in delays, especially during peak periods.
Initial overnight closures will commence at the end of April. These closures are necessary to set up a temporary contraflow arrangement, a system intended to keep two lanes of traffic moving in each direction while vital resurfacing is completed. The main phase involving the contraflow is expected to be in place from early May and last until July, with contractors aiming for full completion of works by autumn—subject, as ever, to the vagaries of the British weather.
Specific dates and details have been outlined for drivers. From Sunday, 27 April, the westbound carriageway will be closed overnight (from 9pm to 6am) for four nights, with traffic diverted via the M48 Severn Bridge. This will be followed by two consecutive nights of full overnight closure for both directions on Thursday, 1 May and Friday, 2 May. Then, on Tuesday, 6 May, both eastbound and westbound lanes will again be fully closed overnight, while the following night (Wednesday, 7 May) will see only the eastbound carriageway closed, all between 9pm and 6am.
As the works progress, a contraflow system with a reduced speed limit of 40mph will be implemented, effective from 6am on 7 May. Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will still be able to use both available lanes, including the contraflow section. This should, at least in part, mitigate the impact on commercial traffic between Wales and the rest of the UK.
However, additional challenges await from late May. From 27 May onwards, National Highways will impose a new 7.5-tonne weight restriction for HGVs on the nearby M48 Severn Bridge, a diversion route during the M4 works. This restriction, likely lasting between 12 and 18 months, has been introduced after regular structural surveys identified deterioration and weakening of the main bridge cables. While most vehicles will remain unaffected, hauliers must seek alternate routes as the heaviest lorries are banned from the crossing in an effort to extend its lifespan and maintain safety standards.
Motorists, businesses and commuters are being strongly advised to monitor travel updates, check diversion routes, and build in extra time for their journeys throughout the project. National Highways says proactive maintenance is necessary to avoid more serious or longer-term closures in future and has apologised for the inconvenience these works may cause.
The bridge, which opened in 1996 to relieve pressure on the original Severn Bridge (now the M48), plays a crucial role in connecting South Wales and South West England. Any disruption has widespread implications for local economies, freight distribution, and daily commutes, further highlighting the bridge’s importance in national infrastructure.
Road users can find more information and regular updates on the National Highways website, while traffic reports and diversions will be well signposted throughout the affected period. For now, patience and preparation are being called for as this essential maintenance work gets underway.