Management of the Severn Bridge Suspension Bridge

ABSTRACT: The M48 Severn Bridge is a 988 m span suspension bridge carrying the M48 motorway across the River Severn in the UK. The bridge is substandard to current UK assessment codes but is permitted to continue in operation on the basis that application of the HighwaysAgency document, BD79, which allows a risk-based management approach to bridge operation, indicates the risk presented is acceptable given the mitigation and monitoring in place. A key aspect of the work involved in verifying that the bridge can remain in operation is undertaking continuous structural assessment, taking into account the results of previous cable intrusive investigations and data from the various continuous monitoring systems.