The Severn Bridge was a feat of engineering that replaced a 137-year-old ferry.

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1966, the Severn Bridge transformed travel between England and Wales. While it remains an iconic suspension structure, its history is marked by wind-tunnel innovation, structural strengthening, and a decades-long political battle over the controversial tolls that once defined the crossing.

The Severn Bridge, which spans the River Severn between South Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire, was the culmination of over a century of planning. Early proposals date back to 1824, when Thomas Telford suggested a bridge to improve mail coach services. However, the rise of rail travel delayed road-based solutions until the mid-20th century. After a 1935 parliamentary bill was blocked by the Great Western Railway Company, post-war plans finally gained momentum. Construction began in 1961, and the bridge was officially opened in 1966 at a cost of £8 million.

The bridge is a suspension structure of unconventional design, featuring an aerofoil-shaped steel box girder deck and zig-zag cable arrangements intended to reduce vibration. Its construction required 18,000 miles of wire for the main cables. The project was so significant that it required the use of equipment previously employed on the Forth Road Bridge. Over the decades, the structure has undergone extensive maintenance, including major strengthening in the late 1980s to accommodate heavier traffic and the installation of dry air circulation systems to combat cable corrosion.

Beyond its engineering, the bridge was long defined by its tolls. Initially set at 2s 6d (£0.125) in 1966, the charges were often criticized as an unfair tax on entering Wales. Ownership transitioned to Severn River Crossing plc in 1992, and the toll system remained a point of political contention until 2017, when the Welsh Secretary announced their abolition. On 17 December 2018, the toll lanes were permanently closed, marking the first time the crossing became toll-free. Today, the bridge carries the M48 motorway and remains a vital link, though it faces ongoing trials regarding heavy goods vehicle restrictions due to cable strand fatigue.

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