Severn Bridge, Suspension bridge over the River Severn, South Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge in South Gloucestershire that links England and Wales by crossing the estuary where the River Severn meets the Bristol Channel. Its steel towers support the roadway and cable system, while the deck surface shifts slightly with the wind and provides a long sightline over the water below.
The bridge was built in the early 1960s to ease traffic flow between England and Wales and replace the old ferry service that had operated for centuries. Its opening in 1966 reduced travel time between the two countries and encouraged economic exchange in the region around Bristol.
The Welsh poet Harri Webb (1920–1994) wrote an ode to the bridge: "Two lands at last connected / Across the waters wide, / And all the tolls collected / On the English side." The single toll booth stood on the English side, since the bridge lies entirely in England; the Welsh border is crossed only on the adjoining Wye Bridge.
The roadway runs high above the water with little shelter from side winds, so caution is needed during stormy weather. Cyclists and walkers use separate paths on either side of the carriageway to keep the crossing safe and away from moving vehicles.
The bridge uses an aerodynamic deck design that reduces wind turbulence and causes less swaying than older suspension bridges. This engineering approach was later adopted worldwide for many modern crossings and changed how engineers build over wide stretches of water.
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