SEVERN CROSSING

'Severn crossing' is a term used to refer to the two motorway crossings over the River Severn between England and Wales, despite there being many other bridges upstream. 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 – including London – 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 2007, the toll for a car is £5.10.

Contents

Railway crossing

The future

See also

External links

Railway crossing

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

The future

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

See also

★ Crossings of the River Severn

★ Aust Severn Powerline Crossing

External links

★ Severn River Crossing PLC The bridges' operating company. Facts and figures, history, etc. about the crossings

★ River Severn bridges