Prince of Wales Bridge

bridge, United Kingdom

Also known as: M4 Second Severn Crossing, Second Severn Crossing(Show More)

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July 18, 2026

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The Prince of Wales Bridge, formerly known as the Second Severn Crossing, is a significant infrastructure project in the United Kingdom. This bridge spans the River Severn, connecting England and Wales. It was opened in 1996 and is part of the M4 motorway, facilitating crucial transport links between South Wales and London.1

The River Severn itself is Britain's longest river, originating in Wales and flowing approximately 180 miles before joining the Bristol Channel. The estuary of the Severn is known for its tidal bore, a wave caused by the incoming tide. The construction of the Prince of Wales Bridge was a response to increasing automobile traffic, complementing the earlier Severn Bridge built in the 1960s.1

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Monmouthshire
…Crossing (completed 1996; renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge in 2018), and the Severn suspension bridge connect Monmouthshire and the rest of Wales to southern England. Including viaducts, the cable-stayed bridge extends more than 3 miles (5 km) and is the longest in Great Britain. Area present county, 329 square…
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…Crossing (completed 1996; renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge in 2018), and the Severn suspension bridge connect Monmouthshire and the rest of Wales to southern England. Including viaducts, the cable-stayed bridge extends more than 3 miles (5 km) and is the longest in Great Britain. Area present county, 329 square…
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River Severn
…construction of the 1,500-foot (456-metre) Second Severn Crossing (renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge in 2018), which opened in 1996 and carries the M4 motorway. The atomic power station (opened 1962) on the flats at Berkeley uses Severn water for cooling purposes. The Severn’s estuary has a notable tidal bore—i.e.,…
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…construction of the 1,500-foot (456-metre) Second Severn Crossing (renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge in 2018), which opened in 1996 and carries the M4 motorway. The atomic power station (opened 1962) on the flats at Berkeley uses Severn water for cooling purposes. The Severn’s estuary has a notable tidal bore—i.e.,…
Read More