Latest news with #DarrenHobbs
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major bridge used by over 30,000 drivers a day to face restrictions from TODAY causing ‘huge knock-on effect'
THE ban on HGVs travelling across the M48 Severn Bridge is set to spark mass congestion on the roads as a result. From today, vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes will be blocked from using the famous bridge over safety fears. 2 National Highways made the decision after the cables that support the bridge are deteriorating. They justified the ban by saying that safety was their "number one priority" and the weight restriction would preserve the bridge for "years to come". But the HGV drivers, who have been affected by the change, argue that it will spark travel chaos in the surrounding area. Lorries over the limit will have to use a 13-mile diversion back to the M4 Magor junction and drivers say that this will cause major congestion on the Prince of Wales Bridge as well as other routes. Darren Hobbs, transport manager for Jaga Brothers Transport in Magor told the BBC: "It's going to be a right mess, I am just dreading it. "A lot of our work is time delivered - we are going to be ringing our customers to say, 'sorry we can't get there'," he added. National Highways calculated that in 2024, 32 vehicles used the M48 bridge every day. HGV vehicles over 7.5 tonnes make up 10 percent of the commuters on the bridge. Around 3,270 lorries will have to find a different route every day. The government organisation said that since the tolls were removed on the bridge in 2018 there has been a 34 percent increase in traffic which the bridge is not equipped for. Michael Gough, of AE Gough and Sons haulage based in Llandrindod Wells and director of Wales with the Road Haulage Association, said the move will pile on "a huge amount of extra stress" for HGV drivers. The bridge's closure could add up to 95 miles onto drivers' journeys. Restrictions will stay in place for a minimum of 12 months, giving National Highway time to install measures to prevent the bridge's main cables from further deterioration. Chris Pope, Programme Delivery Manager for National Highways, said: "Safety is our number one priority, and this weight restriction is about future-proofing the bridge for years to come. "While the bridge remains safe, it was not designed and built for today's levels or weight of traffic. "Vehicles have become heavier and traffic levels have increased significantly over the last 60 years, putting greater load on the cables. Emergency vehicles, road gritters, and coaches will still be able to use the crossing. The announcement comes as surprise to councillors, who said they were not given any prior warning about this "big deal" of a change. Earlier this year, CEO of Monmouthshire County Council wrote on X: 'Weight restrictions being imposed on the M48 Severn Bridge is quite a big deal. "Would have been nice if the CEO of @MonmouthshireCC where it touches down in Wales had been informed more directly.' Councillor Armand Watts from Bulwark and Thornwell council, near the bridge in Chepstow, also hit out at the government-run agency for its lack of communication - calling it a "sham". He told the Hereford Times: "I want to know why National Highways are carrying out a consultation after the decision? That's not consultation that's a sham to do consultation retrospectively". Others expressed worry over the impact the closure will have on surrounding businesses and Monmouthshire's economy. One Labour councillor said: 'Monmouthshire County Council has a plan to create so many jobs but if businesses in Chepstow can't get HGVs on to the bridge what will it mean longer term? Will they look to Magor or over to Avonmouth?' Another local also shared fears of increased pollution in Chepstow, as drivers opt for the A48 to avoid the bridge. Residents have urged government to provide a "clear timeline" for repairs in order to reopen the crossing for drivers and "secure [its] long-term future". 2
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Severn Bridge crossing change begins as concerns raised
Hauliers have said they fear a ban on HGVs on the M48 Severn Bridge will be a "nightmare" for congestion on roads around south east Tuesday, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes will no longer be able to use the original crossing because the cables which support the bridge are deteriorating. National Highways said safety was their "number one priority" and the weight restriction was to future-proof the bridge "for years to come". But there are concerns the move will see more congestion on the Prince of Wales Bridge as well as other routes as HGV traffic has to use a 13-mile diversion back to the M4 Magor junction. "It's going to be a right mess, I am just dreading it," said Darren Hobbs, transport manager for Jaga Brothers Tranport based in Magor."A lot of our work is time delivered - we are going to be ringing our customers to say, 'sorry we can't get there'," he said, adding it will create up to two hours extra work for said traffic in the area, particular on Friday was "carnage" and believes the changes will only make that worse. 'Loads of questions' According to National Highways, the UK government body which maintains the bridges, 32,000 vehicles used the M48 bridge a day in that figure 10% were over 7.5 tonnes, meaning an extra 3,270 large vehicles a day could have to find a different Highways said since tolls were removed on the bridge in 2018 there has been a 34% increase in traffic, which has meant a substantial increase in weight over the bridge which it was not designed for. Michael Gough, of AE Gough and Sons haulage firm based in Llandrindod Wells and director for Wales with the Road Haulage Association, said he believed the move will add a "huge amount of extra stress" for drivers."Our biggest worry is what happens when there is an incident on the Prince of Wales bridge," he said."At the moment all they are saying is that lorries will have to go up the M5 and down the M50. There are just loads of questions. " The ban will be in force for between 12 and 18 months while National Highways work to find a option is to find a way to stagger the HGVS that want to cross the bridge through the kind of technology used in smart solution would be to repair the cables, but it is estimated that could cost between £300m and £600m and take five years or more. Chris Pope, project manager at National Highways, admitted the exact way forward was unclear."The bridge is safe - the issue we have is, as part of the inspection we did two years ago, we take out sample of wires that are then sent out for testing," he said. "And it's those testing results, a very small percentage, that have come back lower. ""To ensure we have plenty of safety factors on the bridge, unfortunately we have to reduce that loading and the only way is to reduce the weight of the HGVs on there." A motion was passed at a full council meeting at Monmouthshire Council earlier this month calling for urgent action to address the potential knock-on impact."We are going to be stuck with this impact for a very long time, impacting both residents and businesses in the local area," said Lisa Dymock, Conservative councillor for the Portskewett ward."I think we will see businesses shut - there are some well-known distribution centres in the area and as soon as a premises comes up across the bridge, I can see them going elsewhere which takes jobs away.""The M48 is one of the main arteries into Wales and it will impact our local economy," she Agency has said it will delay some planned works to the eastbound section of the Prince of Wales Bridge but ongoing works to the westbound direction will continue until early July.
