🚨 Traffic Chaos on the M4! 🚨
Tuesday turned into a nightmare for M4 commuters as serious delays gripped the motorway. Major disruptions were caused when the M48 Severn Bridge had to be closed due to high winds from Storm Bram, leading to traffic being diverted to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. Unfortunately, this bridge also faced partial closures due to emergency repair work on lighting columns that were at risk of collapse.
🎥 Imagine two-hour journeys just to cross the bridge during rush hour, turning usually routine commutes into epic marathons. People in Magor even resorted to driving through floodwaters to avoid the standstill traffic. Journeys that normally last an hour between Cardiff and Newport dragged on for a staggering 3.5 hours. 🚗💨
The Prince of Wales Bridge was shut from 8 pm to 6 am for urgent repairs to remove 35 faulty lighting columns, with a full reopening post-repairs. A signed diversion was set up via the M48 Severn Bridge, with traffic lights at key junctions and recovery teams on standby.
MP Catherine Fookes expressed her frustration at the situation and has called for an urgent meeting with National Highways to understand why this happened and ensure long-term solutions. According to a National Highways spokesperson, safety remains the top priority, meaning some changes on the bridge: no lighting during darkness, a 40mph advisory speed limit, and information signs will remain in place.
Thanks to everyone who showed patience throughout this “safety-critical work.” Let’s hope for smoother journeys ahead! 🛣️
Share your experiences of the M4 chaos in the comments! 👇🏼