A FRESH temporary order restricting heavy goods vehicles on the M48 Severn Bridge is due to take effect later this month as work continues towards allowing lorries back onto the crossing.

National Highways has published notice of a restriction covering the westbound carriageway between Junction 1 at Aust and the bridge, including the junction's westbound entry slip road.

The order, scheduled to come into force on November 26, would prohibit goods vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes.

It could remain legally in place for a maximum of 18 months, although that does not mean the current ban is expected to continue for that long.

The order is separate from the reopening timetable.

The notice says the restriction is necessary because of the possibility of danger to the public or serious damage to the road.

The weight limit was first introduced across the Severn Bridge in May 2025 after routine inspections found deterioration and weakening of its main suspension cables.

Since then, most heavy lorries have been directed to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge instead, creating a diversion of around 14 miles.

National Highways estimates that approximately 3,720 HGVs weighing more than 7.5 tonnes used the original crossing each day before the restriction.

The resulting disruption has affected haulage firms and businesses on both sides of the estuary, including those travelling between Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire.

However, the highways authority has stressed that the restriction is designed to reduce pressure on the bridge cables and keep the crossing open to most other traffic.

Emergency vehicles, buses, coaches and certain maintenance and recovery vehicles are exempt under the existing arrangements.

The new order specifically concerns the westbound approach at Junction 1, rather than announcing a completely new weight ban covering the whole crossing.

Work is progressing on a traffic management system intended to allow heavy vehicles to return without concentrating too much weight on the structure at once.

Under the proposals, HGVs would leave the motorway at junctions on either side of the bridge before being released back onto the carriageway using traffic signals.

This would spread lorries along the bridge, reducing the risk of excessive loads building up in one area.

National Highways now expects the system to be introduced by the end of January 2027, following additional testing and checks.

That timetable represents a three-month delay to earlier plans.

The authority has also dropped an earlier proposal to restrict eastbound HGV movements during the morning peak, following updated traffic modelling.

It says the finished system should allow vehicles over 7.5 tonnes to use the bridge throughout the day.

During planned overnight closures of the M4 crossing, carefully controlled arrangements can already allow heavier vehicles to use the M48 temporarily.

Unplanned closures can require much longer diversions through the M5 and M50 network.

National Highways says construction and testing are continuing, while compliance with the existing weight restriction remains under scrutiny.

Motorists and transport operators are being advised to follow the latest signs and official crossing updates as the work progresses.