M48 motorway
Encyclopedia
The M48 is a motorway in Great Britain
joining Gloucestershire
and Monmouthshire
over the original Severn Bridge
. The M48 is anomalously numbered
, as it is entirely to the west of the M5 motorway
and its number should really therefore begin with 5.
near Olveston
in England
. It then heads north west to Junction 1 near Aust
. It then passes through a toll booth
westbound only and crosses the Severn Bridge. On the Wye Bridge it crosses into Wales
immediately to the south of Chepstow
. It then heads south west after Junction 2 past Crick
and to the north of Caldicot
. The motorway then merges back with the M4
near Magor
. Junction 2 also gives access to the Wye Valley
. Junction 1 is home to Severn View services
, and can be accessed by the A403 road
, from Avonmouth. Junction 2 for Chepstow
can be accessed by the A466, this leads to the A48 road
. For Chepstow from the M4, the M48 is the most direct and quickest route.
The M48 was opened as part of the M4
in 1966.
Before this date traffic between England
and South Wales
was either taken through on a motorail service through the Severn Tunnel
, used the Aust Ferry
(which was unsuitable for large goods vehicle
s) or travelled through Gloucester
to pass north of the Severn Estuary
.
After opening the route became increasingly busy so, in 1984, a report was commissioned into a Second Severn Crossing
. After four years of construction this new route was opened in 1996 and the M4
was diverted over the newer bridge. The original stretch of motorway was renumbered as M48 and now shares the traffic between England
and Wales
.
are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information. Where a junction spans several hundred metres and start and end points are available, both are cited.
Information above gathered from Advanced Direction Signs May 2011
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
joining Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
over the original Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
. The M48 is anomalously numbered
Anomalously numbered roads in Great Britain
In the Great Britain road numbering scheme, Great Britain is divided into numbered zones, the boundaries of which are usually defined by single-digit roads. The first digit of a road's number should be the number of the zone it occupies...
, as it is entirely to the west of the M5 motorway
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
and its number should really therefore begin with 5.
Route
Travelling east to west after leaving the M4M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
near Olveston
Olveston
Olveston is a small village and larger parish in South Gloucestershire, England. The parish comprises the villages of Olveston and Tockington, and the hamlets of Old Down, Ingst and Awkley. Alveston became a separate parish in 1846...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It then heads north west to Junction 1 near Aust
Aust
Aust is a small village in South Gloucestershire, England, the historical site of the eastern terminal of the Aust Ferry crossing route over the River Severn between England and Wales, believed to have been used in Roman times as a continuation of Icknield Street which led from Eastern England...
. It then passes through a toll booth
Toll house
A tollhouse or toll house is a building with accommodation for a toll collector, beside a tollgate on a toll road or canal. Many tollhouses were built by turnpike trusts in England, Wales and Scotland during the 18th and early 19th centuries...
westbound only and crosses the Severn Bridge. On the Wye Bridge it crosses into Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
immediately to the south of Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
. It then heads south west after Junction 2 past Crick
Crick, Monmouthshire
Crick is a small village or hamlet in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire, United Kingdom. It is located on the A48 road 1 mile north of the town of Caldicot and 1 mile east of Caerwent.- History and amenities :...
and to the north of Caldicot
Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Caldicot is a small town in Monmouthshire, southeast Wales, located between Chepstow and Newport, just off the busy M4 / M48 motorway corridor. The site adjoins the Caldicot Levels, on the north side of the Severn estuary. Caldicot has easy access by motorway and rail to Cardiff, and across the...
. The motorway then merges back with the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
near Magor
Magor, Monmouthshire
Magor - meaning 'a wall' - is a large village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, between Chepstow and the city of Newport, and adjoining the Caldicot Levels beside the Severn estuary. Magor lies close to the M4 motorway, which has a nearby motorway service area sharing its name...
. Junction 2 also gives access to the Wye Valley
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
. Junction 1 is home to Severn View services
Severn View services
Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef *Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store *BP Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef (removed 2009)*Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store (removed 2009)*BP Facilities:*Costa...
, and can be accessed by the A403 road
A403 road
The A403 is a road in the United Kingdom that starts at junction 1 of the M48 at Aust and leads to Avonmouth in Bristol. It is important as a major route for the industries there, allowing easy travel access to Wales and South and East England....
, from Avonmouth. Junction 2 for Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
can be accessed by the A466, this leads to the A48 road
A48 road
The A48 is a major trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen. Before the construction of the M4 motorway and the first Severn Bridge in the mid 1960s it was the principal route into South Wales. For most of its journey through Wales,...
. For Chepstow from the M4, the M48 is the most direct and quickest route.
History
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
in 1966.
Before this date traffic between England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
was either taken through on a motorail service through the Severn Tunnel
Severn Tunnel
The Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....
, used the Aust Ferry
Aust Ferry
Aust Ferry or Beachley Ferry was a ferry service that operated across the River Severn between Aust and Beachley both in Gloucestershire, England. Before the Severn Bridge opened in 1966, it provided a daily service for road traffic crossing between the West Country and South Wales...
(which was unsuitable for large goods vehicle
Large Goods Vehicle
A large goods vehicle , is the European Union term for any truck with a gross combination mass of over...
s) or travelled through Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
to pass north of the Severn Estuary
Severn Estuary
The Severn Estuary is the estuary of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. Its high tidal range means it has been at the centre of discussions in the UK regarding renewable energy.-Geography:...
.
After opening the route became increasingly busy so, in 1984, a report was commissioned into a Second Severn Crossing
Second Severn Crossing
The Second Severn Crossing is a bridge which carries the M4 motorway over the River Severn between England and Wales, inaugurated on 5 June 1996 by HRH The Prince of Wales to augment the traffic capacity of the original Severn Bridge built in 1966...
. After four years of construction this new route was opened in 1996 and the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
was diverted over the newer bridge. The original stretch of motorway was renumbered as M48 and now shares the traffic between England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Junctions
Data from driver location signsDriver location signs
Driver location signs are English highway route markers, first introduced in 2003, that complement distance marker posts. Both types of marker post display the distances from a nominal start point in kilometres...
are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information. Where a junction spans several hundred metres and start and end points are available, both are cited.
| M48 Motorway | |||
| km | Eastbound exits (B Carriageway) | Junction | Westbound exits (A Carriageway) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189.3 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , Bristol Bristol Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007... M4 M4 motorway The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea... |
M4 J21 Terminus |
Chepstow Chepstow Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway... , Services Severn View services Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef *Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store *BP Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef (removed 2009)*Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store (removed 2009)*BP Facilities:*Costa... M48 Start of motorway |
| 193.9 | Avonmouth Avonmouth Avonmouth is a port and suburb of Bristol, England, located on the Severn Estuary, at the mouth of the River Avon.The council ward of Avonmouth also includes Shirehampton and the western end of Lawrence Weston.- Geography :... A403 A403 road The A403 is a road in the United Kingdom that starts at junction 1 of the M48 at Aust and leads to Avonmouth in Bristol. It is important as a major route for the industries there, allowing easy travel access to Wales and South and East England.... , Services Severn View services Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef *Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store *BP Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef (removed 2009)*Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store (removed 2009)*BP Facilities:*Costa... |
J1 Services |
Avonmouth A403, Services (MOTO) |
| 194.4 | No Tolls | Tolls | Toll Booth |
| 194.9 197.6 |
Severn Bridge Severn Bridge The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and... Entry into England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...  Wye Bridge Severn Bridge The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and... |
River Severn River Severn The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales... Border River Wye River Wye The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:... |
Severn Bridge Severn Bridge The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and... Entry into Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...  Wye Bridge Severn Bridge The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and... |
| 198.2 198.6 |
Chepstow A466 (A48) Cas - gwent |
J2 | Chepstow Chepstow Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway... A466 (A48 A48 road The A48 is a major trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen. Before the construction of the M4 motorway and the first Severn Bridge in the mid 1960s it was the principal route into South Wales. For most of its journey through Wales,... ) Cas - gwent Chepstow Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway... |
| 209.6 | Start of Motorway Chepstow Chepstow Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway... , Services Severn View services Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef *Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store *BP Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef (removed 2009)*Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store (removed 2009)*BP Facilities:*Costa... M48 Cas - gwent Chepstow Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway... , Gwasanaethau Severn View services Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef *Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store *BP Facilities:*Costa Coffee - formerly Little Chef (removed 2009)*Burger King*WHSmith - there also formerly was a 'Scoop' Convenience Store (removed 2009)*BP Facilities:*Costa... |
Terminus M4 J23 |
Newport Newport Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent... , Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... M4 M4 motorway The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea... Casnewydd Newport Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent... , Caerdydd Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
Information above gathered from Advanced Direction Signs May 2011
- The services have no counterpart on the M4M4 motorwayThe M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
, giving travellers wishing to use them a motive to use the older bridge and helping to share traffic between the bridges.