Severn Bridge

The Severn Bridge seen from the English side of the river. From 1966 to 1996, the bridge carried the M4 motorway. On completion of the Second Severn Crossing the motorway from Aust on the English side to Rogiet was renamed the M48

For the Ontario community, see Severn Bridge, Ontario. For Severn Crossing, see Severn crossing

The Severn Bridge (Welsh: Pont Hafren) is the suspension bridge that forms part of the original Severn crossing. The bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, who hailed it as the dawn of a new economic era for South Wales.

The bridge is a 5240 feet (1597 metres) long suspension bridge of conventional design, with the deck supported by two main cables slung between two steel towers. The towers are approximately 400 feet above the river and are of hollow box construction. The deck is an orthotropic steel box girder of aerofoil shape with cantilevered cycle tracks and footway supported from the box. The shape of the bridge was determined by the designers Freeman, Fox and Partners following wind tunnel tests for the Forth Road Bridge, after the original wind tunnel model was accidentally destroyed. The Severn Bridge is in almost exactly the same location as the old Aust Ferry.

The bridge was granted Grade I listed status in 1998.

Severn Bridge looking north, Jan 2006

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See also

• List of Severn bridges

External links

• ST58NE Aust M4 motorway - Images of England (photos of listed buildings)