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Ice falls close Severn Crossings Ice falls close Severn Crossings
(about 3 hours later)
Snow and icy conditions have led to the Severn Crossing bridges on the M48 and M4 being closed to all traffic. Snow and icy conditions led to the Severn Crossing bridges on the M48 and M4 being closed to all traffic.
The Highways Agency made the decision to close the bridges after lumps of ice fell onto traffic from the overhead gantries making driving dangerous. The Highways Agency made the decision to close the bridges after lumps of ice fell on to traffic from overhead gantries, making driving dangerous.
Police said five car windscreens had been smashed by falling ice from the cables on the Second Severn Crossing.Police said five car windscreens had been smashed by falling ice from the cables on the Second Severn Crossing.
A spokesman said it was "unprecedented" that weather conditions had led to both bridges being closed. One lane in each direction of the "old" Severn Bridge on the M48 had reopened to traffic by 1530 GMT on Friday.
"It's very much a safety hazard and of course these gantries span all carriageways on the motorways," said Jim Clune, general manager of Severn River Crossing PLC. A spokesman said it was "unprecedented" that weather conditions had led to both the M48 and M4 bridges being closed.
Long queues of traffic have built up as a result of the closures"We have had reports of sheets of ice up to one metre square." Long queues of traffic built up as a result of the closures
Highways Agency officials and people from the Severn River Crossing company are on the bridges checking the overhead gantries. "It's very much a safety hazard and of course these gantries span all carriageways on the motorways," said Jim Clune, general manager of Severn River Crossing.
"The last time both bridges were closed was 10 years ago when there was a release of a noxious chemical at Avonmouth," said Mr Clune. "We have had reports of sheets of ice up to one metre square.
"It is our priority to get the bridges back open but we can't say exactly when that will be," he added. "The last time both bridges were closed was 10 years ago when there was a release of a noxious chemical at Avonmouth."
The weekend Classic Car Show at the Royal Bath & West Show Ground in Shepton Mallet, has been postponed because of the bad weather. The weekend Classic Car Show at the Royal Bath and West Show Ground in Shepton Mallet has been postponed because of the weather.