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Ice falls close Severn Crossings | Ice falls close Severn Crossings |
(19 minutes later) | |
Snow and icy conditions 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 on to traffic from 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. |
The Severn Bridge on the M48 had reopened to traffic by 1530 GMT on Friday. The M4 bridge remained closed. | |
A spokesman said it was "unprecedented" that weather conditions had led to both the M48 and M4 bridges being closed. | A spokesman said it was "unprecedented" that weather conditions had led to both the M48 and M4 bridges being closed. |
Long queues of traffic built up as a result of the closures | Long queues of traffic built up as a result of the closures |
"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. | "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. |
"We have had reports of sheets of ice up to one metre square. | "We have had reports of sheets of ice up to one metre square. |
"The last time both bridges were closed was 10 years ago when there was a release of a noxious chemical at Avonmouth." | "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 and West Show Ground in Shepton Mallet has been postponed because of the weather. | The weekend Classic Car Show at the Royal Bath and West Show Ground in Shepton Mallet has been postponed because of the weather. |