- Severn crossing
Severn crossing is a term used to refer to the two
motorway crossings over theRiver Severn estuary betweenEngland andWales . The two crossings are:
*TheSevern Bridge (Welsh: "Pont Hafren")
*TheSecond Severn Crossing (Welsh: "Ail Groesfan Hafren")The first motorway
suspension bridge was inaugurated on8 September 1966 , and the newercable-stayed bridge , a fewmile s to the south, was inaugurated on5 June 1996 . The Second Severn Crossing marks the upper limit of theSevern estuary .The two Severn crossings are regarded as the main crossing points from England into South Wales. Prior to 1966 road traffic between the southern counties of Wales and the southern counties of England – including
London – either had to travel viaGloucester or take theAust Ferry , which ran roughly along the line of the Severn Bridge, from Old Passage nearAust toBeachley . The ferry ramps at Old Passage andBeachley are still visible.Tolls are collected on both crossings from vehicles travelling in a westward direction only. As of January 2008, the toll for a car is £5.30.
Railway crossing
The
Severn Tunnel , carrying mainline trains under the Severn, follows a very similar route to the Second Severn Crossing. From 1879 until its collapse in 1960 theSevern Railway Bridge also carried trains across the Severn fromSharpness toLydney .The future
The proposed
Severn Barrage will constitute a third crossing if it is ever built. It is generally presumed that it would carry a road crossing. Until recently, a rail link over it had been ruled out because the barrage would contain a huge set of shipping locks that the rails would need to traverse. However, it has been suggested that a rail bridge could carry smaller, modern trains over the locks, so a rail link is possible.ee also
*
Crossings of the River Severn
*Aust Severn Powerline Crossing External links
* [http://www.severnbridge.co.uk Severn River Crossing PLC] The bridges' operating company. Facts and figures, history, etc. about the crossings
* [http://www.severntales.co.uk River Severn bridges]
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