Title and introductory text
2026 No. 736
Road Traffic, England
The M48 Motorway (Severn Bridge Crossing) (Temporary Prohibition and Restriction of Traffic) Order 2026
Made
2nd July 2026
Coming into force
6th July 2026
The Secretary of State for Transport, being the traffic authority for the Severn Bridge Crossing on the M48 motorway and in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 2(1), (2)(a), and (b), 4(1), 14(1)(a), (4), (5) and (7), 17 and 88 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984() (“the Act”), makes the following Order.
In accordance with section 14(1)(a) of the Act, the Secretary of State is satisfied that traffic on the lengths of road specified in this Order should be restricted because works are proposed to be executed on the M48 motorway.
The Secretary of State has also had regard to the existence of alternative routes suitable for the traffic which will be affected by this Order in accordance with section 14(3) of the Act.
Propose a change1 Citation and commencement
This Order may be cited as the M48 Motorway (Severn Bridge Crossing) (Temporary Prohibition and Restriction of Traffic) Order 2026 and comes into force on 6th July 2026.
Propose a change2 Interpretation
In this Order—
“contraflow” means a part of a carriageway of a road where traffic is authorised to proceed in the opposite direction to the usual direction of traffic on that part;
“first length of carriageway” means—
the westbound carriageway of the M48 from a point 45 metres west of the centre line of the circulatory carriageway at M48 Junction 1 to a point 47 metres west of the mechanical joint at the western end of the M48 Severn Bridge Crossing; and
the eastbound carriageway of the M48 from a point 47 metres west of the mechanical joint at the western end of the M48 Severn Bridge Crossing to a point 45 metres west of the centre line of the circulatory carriageway at M48 Junction 1;
“outside lane” means the right hand or off side lane of a carriageway with 2 or more lanes;
“second length of carriageway” means the eastbound carriageway of the M48 from a point 320 metres west of the tip of the nosing of the eastbound exit slip road at M48 Junction 1 to a point 47 metres west of the mechanical joint at the western end of the M48 Severn Bridge Crossing;
“M48 Severn Bridge Crossing” means the Aust Viaduct, the Severn Bridge, the Beachley Viaduct and the M48 Wye Bridge;
“the nightly works period” means each period of 10 hours starting at 20:00 hours on each day during “the works period”;
“the works period” means the period starting at 00:01 hours on Monday 6th July 2026 and ending when the works have been completed or after 18 months, whichever is sooner;
“tip of the nosing” means the first point where an entry slip road joins the carriageway of a motorway or the last point where an exit slip road leaves the carriageway of a motorway;
“works” means waterproofing, resurfacing, inspections and associated maintenance activities.
Propose a change3 Motorway restrictions
Subject to Article 6 and Article 7, no person may, during the works period cause or permit any vehicle to be driven at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour on the first length of carriageway;
Propose a change4 Motorway restrictions
Subject to Article 6 and Article 7, during the works period a contraflow will be in operation on the second length of carriageway and no person may cause or permit any vehicle to enter or proceed in the outside lane of the second length of carriageway in any direction other than westbound;
Propose a change5 Motorway restrictions
Subject to Article 6 and Article 7, no person may, during the nightly works period, cause or permit any vehicle to enter or proceed in the first length of carriageway.
Propose a change6 Use of traffic signs to implement the motorway restrictions
Articles 3, 4 and 5, will apply only at such times and to such extent as indicated from time to time by traffic signs, as prescribed under section 64 of the Act.
Propose a change7 Exemptions
The provisions of—
(a) Articles 3, 4 and 5 do not apply to a vehicle—
(i) being used for police, ambulance, fire and rescue authority emergency response purposes; or
(ii) proceeding at the direction of, or with the permission of, a police constable;
(b) Article 3 does not apply to vehicles falling within regulation 3(4) of the Road Traffic Exemptions (Special Forces) (Variation and Amendment) Regulations 2011 where a vehicle is used in accordance with regulation 3(5) of those Regulations;
(c) Article 5 does not apply to any vehicle—
(i) being used in connection with the works;
(ii) being driven by, or at the direction of, a traffic officer in uniform; or
(iii) being used for maintenance purposes.
Propose a change