Crucial motorway bridge used by 80,000 Brits every day shuts in BOTH directions as Storm Bert brings 70mph gales

A MAJOR span utilized by 80,000 drivers a time has been unopen down owed to terrible weather.

The crossing has been closed arsenic portion of the travel chaos sparked by Storm Bert, which has seen roads shuttered, trains axed and ferries cancelled.

The Met Office has activated a scope of yellow and amber warnings covering astir of the UK.

This includes the entirety of Wales and Northern Ireland, astir of Scotland and overmuch of the North.

As snow, rainfall and winds of up to 70mph expanse in, National Highways has besides raised six reddish question alerts.

Several engaged A-roads person been closed owed to the weather, portion 2 person been unopen down arsenic the effect of "serious collisions".

Among the warnings is simply a afloat closure of the M48 successful some directions betwixt J1 and J2 successful Gloucestershire.

As seasoned motorway hoppers mightiness recognise, that agelong covers the entirety of the Severn Bridge.

Opened successful 1966 to regenerate a century-old ferry route, the span crosses the River Severn and connects the M4 motorway to South Wales.

As a result, drivers coming from the South and South West don't person to spell each the mode up to Gloucester conscionable to treble backmost connected themselves to scope large cities similar Newport and Cardiff.

National Highways announced this greeting that the span would beryllium closed owed to precocious winds.

At first, postulation was lone stopped successful 1 absorption but worsening conditions saw the restrictions extended to some sides of the bridge.

The closure volition stay successful spot until the upwind velocity drops beneath 46mph.

Instead, drivers volition person to enactment connected the M4 to usage the newer Prince of Wales Bridge, astir 3 miles down the stream bank.

However, if the winds scope 80mph, some bridges volition beryllium closed and a caller diversion enactment successful spot on the M5, M50, A40 and A449.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: "The M48 Severn Bridge successful Gloucestershire is closed successful some directions betwixt J1 (Aust) and J2 (Chepstow) owed to beardown winds.

"During windy conditions, the Severn Estuary tin funnel beardown gusts crossed the bridges, which tin beryllium hazardous to traffic.

"The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge has barriers which trim the effects of these gusts.

"However, the older plan of the M48 Severn Bridge didn’t see these barriers, and we sometimes request to restrict entree to the Severn Bridge for the information of our roadworthy users.

"When this happens, postulation is diverted connected to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge."