Editing Severn crossing

{{Short description|Set of motorway bridges}}
{{About|the motorway crossings of the river|other uses|List of crossings of the River Severn}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
[[File:Severn Estuary Crossings.svg|thumb|Map showing the Severn road and rail crossings, the Severn Bridge (top right), Severn Tunnel and Prince of Wales Bridge (Second Severn Crossing) (bottom left)]][[File:Severn Aerial.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of both Severn bridges. The older Severn Bridge is in the foreground and the newer Prince of Wales Bridge in the background.]]

'''Severn crossing''' is a term used to refer to the two [[motorway]] crossings over the [[River Severn]] estuary between England and Wales operated by England's [[National Highways]]. The two crossings are:
*[[Severn Bridge]] ({{langx|cy|Pont Hafren}}) 
*[[Prince of Wales Bridge (United Kingdom)|Prince of Wales Bridge]] ({{langx|cy| Pont Tywysog Cymru}}), until 2018 known as the Second Severn Crossing (''Ail Groesfan Hafren'').<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Severn Crossings |url=https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/what-do-civil-engineers-do/severn-crossings |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230829021301/https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/what-do-civil-engineers-do/severn-crossings |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)}}</ref>

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 stands more or less where the mid [[Severn Estuary]] becomes the upper estuary. It was officially renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge on 2 July 2018.<ref name=":0" /> From 1966 to 1996, the first bridge, from Aust on the English side to [[Chepstow]], carried the [[M4 motorway]]. On completion of the Second Severn crossing, the motorway crossing the first bridge was renamed the [[M48 motorway|M48]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.org/motorway/m4sscscheme.htm |title=The Motorway Archive: M4 Second Severn Crossing |publisher=Iht.org |date=28 April 1992 |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207181941/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m4sscscheme.htm |archive-date= 7 February 2012 }}</ref>

The two Severn crossings are regarded as the main crossing points from England into South Wales. Before 1966 road traffic between the southern counties of Wales and the southern counties of England had either to travel via [[Gloucester]] or to take the [[Aust Ferry]], which ran roughly along the line of the Severn Bridge, from Old Passage near [[Aust]] to [[Beachley]].<ref name=":1" /> The ferry ramps at Old Passage and Beachley are still visible.

Until 17 December 2018, tolls were collected on both crossings from vehicles travelling in a westward direction only; the toll for small vehicles was £5.60. The Severn Crossing reverted to public ownership on 8 January 2018, run by National Highways.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46539168|title=Severn tolls' final day after 800 years|last=Shuttleworth|first=Peter|date=16 December 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=17 December 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Railway crossings ==
The [[Severn Tunnel]], carrying mainline trains under the [[Severn]] along the [[South Wales Main Line]] has been followed in its original route by the [[Second Severn Crossing]].<ref name=":1" />  

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

==Future==
===Severn Barrage proposal===
{{Main articles|Severn Barrage}}
A proposed [[Severn Barrage]] could constitute a third crossing. The [[Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study]] noted that "some commentators have suggested that a barrage across the Severn estuary should carry a new road or rail link." The report concluded that additional crossings would be unnecessary.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/50064/1._Feasibility_Study_Conclusions_and_Summary_Report_-_15_Oct.pdf |title=Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study: Conclusions and Summary Report |date=October 2010 |publisher=Department of Energy and Climate Change |page= |docket= |quote= |author-link= |access-date=28 August 2023}}</ref> A 2022 proposal also did not include any new road or rail link.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barry |first=Sion |date=2022-03-17 |title=New plans for a £30bn Severn barrage revealed |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/severn-barrage-30m-tidal-energy-23417128 |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref>  

===2018 Third Severn Crossing proposal===
The county of [[Gloucestershire]]'s 2050 Vision was launched in 2018, and contains a proposal for a third Severn Crossing between [[Lydney]] and [[Sharpness, Gloucestershire|Sharpness]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/plans-third-severn-bridge-unveiled-1153621|title=Plans for a third Severn bridge unveiled|website=Bristol Post|date=1 February 2018|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> This would replicate the former [[Severn Bridge Railway]].

==See also==
*[[Aust Severn Powerline Crossing]]
*[[List of crossings of the River Severn]]
*[[List of bridges in Wales]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/the-severn-bridges/}}

{{River Severn}}

[[Category:River Severn]]
[[Category:Former toll bridges in England]]
[[Category:Former toll bridges in Wales]]