Travel warning as M4 Severn Bridge and Tunnel to close for works – BBC News

Travellers on the busiest routes between Wales and England could face disruption in July, as both the M4 Severn Bridge and Severn Rail Tunnel are closed for repairs.

Trains between South Wales and Bristol, London and the south coast of England will be affected by the 16-day closure of the Severn Tunnel between Wednesday 3 July and Friday 19 July.

The M4 bridge will also close eastbound on Wednesday and Thursday, July 10 and 11 – although the original M48 Severn Bridge will remain open while its sister crossing is closed.

Highways England, which maintains the two Severn bridges, warned commuters and tourists that they will face delays until the autumn as a dual carriageway is introduced on the bridge to allow workers to resurface the road.

This means that in July the only main route between South Wales and south-west England sometimes passes over the M48 bridge, which connects Chepstow and Australia.

Highways England said it would also require more night-time closures of the M4 bridge later in the summer and autumn as road resurfacing progresses.

“If you use the bridge this summer, please expect delays and be prepared to use the M48 to ease congestion,” the roads agency said.

“By carrying out this work during the summer you will reduce the risk of the M48 bridge being closed due to weather conditions, providing an alternative route for anyone crossing the river.”

This comes as train passengers between South Wales and England face more than two weeks of disruption due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel between Wednesday 3 July and Tuesday 9 July.

This means that passengers on mainline trains between South Wales and London will have an additional journey time of at least an hour, as the train will run via Gloucester and will not stop in Bristol.

Network Rail has also warned that a limited rail replacement service will run between Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Parkway – with none direct to Bristol Temple Meads.

Engineers will replace four miles (7km) of track – the entire length of the South Wales side – by installing 66 new rails.

The team will also install 10,800 sleepers and more than 22,000 tonnes of new ballast and remove 21,000 tonnes of soil.

Workers will also replace around 900m (2,950ft) of track at Cattybrook near Almondsbury and more than 230m (750ft) of track drainage will be replaced at Patchway Gap – between the two Patchway tunnels near Bristol.

The Severn Tunnel will also be closed on the weekend of July 27 and 28 and August 24 and 25 for follow-up work.

Music lovers attending large outdoor concerts in South Wales in July may experience disruption to their journey to and from concerts. They have been warned to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey.

Shania Twain, Sir Tom Jones and Hozier are booked at Chepstow Racecourse on July 5 and 6 respectively, while the Severn Tunnel is closed.

The National, Manic Street Preachers, Suede, JLS, Idles, Noel Gallagher and Madness will also play Cardiff Castle when the tunnel is closed.

Fans going to see Rick Astley and Lightning Seeds at Cardiff Castle on July 10 are warned: the Severn Tunnel and the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge eastbound to Bristol will be closed after the show.