Severn Bridge (Hansard, 16 June 1982)

§ Mr. John Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the state of the Severn Bridge.

§ Mrs. Chalker
I plan to do so shortly.

§ Mr. John Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Transport why there were delays on the east-to-west carriageway of the Severn Bridge on the morning of Thursday 10 June; why there were no warning signs to motorists of the delay; what liaison had taken place with the police to control traffic; and whether broadcasting stations had been warned of the delays.

§ Mrs. Chalker
One lane of the westbound carriageway of the Severn crossing had to be closed last week to enable repairs to be undertaken to cracks on the underside of the bridge deck. No serious delays took place until the opening of the Dunlop Masters golf tournament which attracted a large number of visitors.
As is normal, the Avon and Somerset police force were informed in advance of the closure. They in turn advised Gwent police. The police made a general statement about the lane closures suggesting the use of alternative routes, and a warning of delays was broadcast. Little purpose would have been served by erecting warning signs close to the bridge about delays on the bridge.

§ Mr. John Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to facilitate the smooth running of traffic on the Severn Bridge in high summer and particularly at peak holiday weekends.

§ Mrs. Chalker
The holiday route system, which has been developed successfully in the South-West region over the last 16 years to ease traffic congestion at known bottlenecks on main roads, has been extended for 1982 to cover the possibility that there may be restrictions on the Severn bridge during the peak holiday traffic periods.
The alternative routes have been signed "Holiday Route" for the use of light traffic. The police will monitor the situation at the Severn bridge and, particularly during the expected holiday traffic peak period, will arrange to uncover the starter signs for the major routes near Swindon and/or Coldra on the M4 to advise motorists to use the Holiday Routes. Similar signs on the A40 from Oxford and the A435 from Evesham will advise the use of alternative holiday routes because of delays at the Bridge. Total diversions are neither desirable nor practicable, but a significant diversion will reduce congestion at the crossing considerably. The operation of the holiday routes and the motorway will be monitored by the police who will direct operations.