Essential maintenance on the M48 Severn Bridge gets under way this weekend, with surfacing repairs, gantry work and welding all taking place.

National Highways will carry out these works, starting tomorrow, Saturday, March 5, with surfacing and pothole repairs helping to ensure safe and smooth journeys for motorists, while maintaining the gantry components will allow inspection and maintenance activities to be carried out and ensure the bridge stays in good working order.

Nick Dunbar, senior maintenance assurance manager for National Highways, said: “This work will help to ensure the carriageway and the bridge are proactively maintained, reducing the need for unplanned bridge closures.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and advise motorists to plan ahead and allow a little extra time for their journeys.”

The weather-dependent work is due to start tomorrow and finish by Wednesday, March 9.

The work will be done in several phases to ensure minimal disruption to motorists, with vehicles diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge where necessary.

To carry out the work safely and efficiently, the eastbound and westbound carriageways will be closed as follows:

Eastbound from 6am to 6pm on March 5 for one day

Westbound from 6am to 6pm on March 6 for one day

Eastbound from 7pm to 6am on March 7 for two nights

All closures will be removed as soon as works are completed.

As the work is weather dependent, the planned closures may have to be rearranged at short notice. New dates will be advised via roadside signage and National Highways’ social media channels.