8 September 2008

This day in history:
Opened by the Queen on the 8th September 1966, the Severn Bridge replaced a ferry service and opened up a fast and efficient means of crossing from England to Wales at a point where the River Severn is around a mile wide. A spectacular feat of engineering the Severn Bridge has carried more than 300,000,000 vehicles since it opened. The Severn Bridge actually spans the Severn Estuary and the River Wye so it is in fact two bridges. With increased congestion, closures due to high winds and accidents it was decided that a second bridge would be needed to cope with the increased traffic flow. The photos that you see here are taken whilst crossing the bridge, that is, the original Severn Bridge on the M4. read more