The M48 Motorway (Severn Bridge) (Temporary Prohibition of Heavy Goods Vehicles) Order 2025

• Citation: S.I. 2025/607
• Sections: 5

Section 1 Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the M48 Motorway (Severn Bridge) (Temporary Prohibition of Heavy Goods Vehicles) Order 2025 and comes into force on 27th May 2025.

Section 2 Interpretation

In this Order—

“ appointed person ” has the meaning given in section 23 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 ;

“ goods vehicle ” has the meaning given in Schedule 1 to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 ;

“ length of carriageway ” means—

the westbound carriageway of the M48 from a point 239 metres west of the tip of the nosing of the westbound entry slip road at junction 1 (Aust) to a point 47 metres west of the mechanical joint at the western end of the M48 Severn Bridge; 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 to a point 239 metres west of the tip of the nosing of the westbound entry slip road at junction 1 (Aust);

“ M48 ” means the M48 motorway;

“ maximum gross weight ” has the meaning given in Schedule 1 to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016;

“ period of danger ” means the period starting at 00:01 hours on Tuesday 27th May 2025 and ending when the likelihood of danger has ended 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.

Section 3 Motorway restrictions

Subject to article 4, no person may, during the period of danger, cause or permit any goods vehicle, having a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes to enter or proceed in the length of carriageway.

Section 4 Use of traffic signs to implement the motorway restrictions

Article 3 only applies at such times and to such extent as indicated from time to time by traffic signs, as prescribed under section 64 of the Act.

Section 5 Exemptions

Article 3 does not apply to a vehicle—

(a) being used for police, ambulance, fire, or rescue authority emergency response purposes;

(b) proceeding at the direction of, or with the permission of, a police constable, traffic officer in uniform, or an appointed person; or

(c) being used for maintenance purposes on the M48 Severn Bridge.