This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/bristol/7874277.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Ice falls close Severn Crossings | Ice falls close Severn Crossings |
(about 6 hours later) | |
One of the two Severn Crossing bridges closed by dangerous snow and icy conditions has reopened. | |
The Severn Bridge on the M48 had reopened to traffic by 1530 GMT on Friday. The M4 bridge remained closed. | The Severn Bridge on the M48 had reopened to traffic by 1530 GMT on Friday. The M4 bridge remained closed. |
The Highways Agency made the decision to close both M48 and M4 Severn Crossings after lumps of ice fell on to traffic from overhead gantries. | |
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 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. |
"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." |