HC Deb 11 June 1980 vol 986 cc243-4W
Mr. Penhaligon

asked the Minister of Transport by how much the maximum permissible weight for lorries could be raised on the Severn and Forth bridges without necessitating traffic controls.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The Severn and Forth bridges, in common with all

statutory completion required Non statutory
1978 1979 1980 1978 1979 1980
Number of types of questionnaires issued 2 2 2 9 5 8

modern bridges in the United Kingdom, are designed to a formula loading derived from a train of vehicles complying with the construction and use regulations. Therefore, provided the axle spacing, axle weight and vehicle length of a lorry are such as to keep the actual loading within the formula loading, there is no limit to the weight of lorry which can use the bridges without traffic control.