Minister enters bridge closure row (From Free Press Series)

Minister enters bridge closure row

SECRETARY of State for Wales, Peter Hain, has given reassurances about the constant closures of the old Severn Crossing - in the same week as the bridge closed again to traffic for over eight hours.

Motorists were prevented from crossing the Severn Bridge on Thursday, January 8, due to high winds and poor weather conditions.

The west-bound carriageway closed first at 9.29am, followed by the east-bound carriageway at 9.50am, and the bridge re-opened again at 5.10pm. Yesterday (Tuesday) a 40mph speed restriction was put in place on the bridge due to high winds.

Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, this week responded to concerns about the closure of the M48 Severn Bridge for 35 hours in November last year.

In a letter to Monmouth MP Huw Edwards, who is campaigning against frequent closures of the bridge during winter months, Mr Hain said bridge protocol is being reviewed regularly.

Mr Edwards said: "The Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain MP has informed me that the bridge closure protocol is being reviewed regularly, however height restriction measures have not been developed to a level where the system that is both practical and workable."

"It is very disappointing that height restriction measures are still not in place and that the bridge has been closed to traffic once again today.

"The bridge should only be closed if there are road safety concerns not based on resources and unimplemented protocol"

Decisions to close the Severn Bridge are now made by the Highways Agency, Gwent Consultancy and WS Atkins Conultancy.

New protocol for closing the Severn Bridge was supposed to be in place by last October.

Mr Edwards added: "Persistent temporary closures of the M48 Bridge cause considerable disruption to local people who regularly use the bridge to commute to and from work.

"The M48 Severn Crossing is an important transport link for many local businesses and frequent closures of the bridge have a damaging impact on the local economy of Chepstow and the Wye Valley.

"I remain in constant contact with the Highways Agency to ensure that the protocol is workable and practical to prevent disruption to regular users of the M48 Severn Crossing."