**M4 Prince of Wales Bridge Sees Major Disruption After Multi‑Vehicle Collision**
Commuters travelling eastbound over the Prince of Wales Bridge on the M4 faced severe delays on Wednesday morning after a significant collision led to a full closure of the carriageway. The incident unfolded during rush hour, causing an extensive build-up of traffic and resulting in extensive disruption for motorists heading towards England from south Wales.
The crash, reported shortly before 8am between Junction 23 (Monmouthshire) and Junction 22 (Redwick), involved three cars and a motorcycle. Emergency services rapidly attended the scene, with police and paramedics coordinating efforts to manage the incident, provide medical attention, and clear the vehicles involved.
Gwent Police confirmed that minor injuries had been sustained in the collision. In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson said, “We received a report of a road traffic collision on the M4 between junctions 23 and 22 at around 7.50am on Wednesday, 6 August. Officers and paramedics are currently at the scene. The collision involved three cars and a motorcycle. Minor injuries have been reported, and the incident is ongoing.”
Initially, two lanes were closed eastbound as the situation was assessed and emergency personnel arrived. However, by 8:25am, authorities had taken the decision to hold all eastbound traffic on the bridge, shutting the carriageway entirely to allow for a safe response and clear-up. This meant that no vehicles could proceed in the affected direction for over an hour. Meanwhile, the westbound carriageway remained open, allowing traffic to continue unimpeded towards Wales.
The full closure caused traffic to back up significantly, with queues swiftly extending to approximately 11 miles, as far as Junction 24 at Coldra. Drivers reported being stuck for up to two hours as recovery work continued and the accident scene was cleared. Traffic Wales, responsible for managing the region’s motorways and major routes, warned that drivers would face “severe” disruption throughout the morning.
By 9:30am, two lanes – lanes two and three – were reopened to traffic, providing some relief to motorists caught in the sizeable tailbacks. However, lane one remained closed to accommodate ongoing recovery operations and final checks by safety teams. The bridge finally returned to full operational status at approximately 10:20am after accident recovery was completed and the last lane was deemed safe for use.
Disruptions like this highlight the complexities faced by emergency and highway services in balancing rapid response with the need to protect all road users. Though the incident resulted in only minor injuries, the ripple effects demonstrated how a collision at a strategic crossing point can impact thousands of people heading to work, appointments or deliveries.
Such delays often prompt renewed calls for improved traffic management or resilience measures on key arterial routes such as the M4, particularly given its importance as a link between Wales and southern England. While no single quick solution exists, authorities consistently remind drivers to allow extra travel time and to stay up to date with the latest traffic information in the event of accidents or emergency roadworks.
In the wake of incidents like this, commentators also note the efficiency and professionalism of first responders and motorway officers, whose swift actions often prevent further harm and help restore order on the UK’s busiest roads.
As always, police ask drivers to observe safe following distances and remind everyone that maintaining awareness and caution on major routes like the M4 is vital to preventing similar accidents in the future. Regular updates for such incidents are reported on Traffic Wales and Gwent Police channels, as well as local news platforms.