A police incident has resulted in the closure of part of the Prince of Wales bridge on the M4 motorway, causing significant disruption for motorists in the area. The incident led to the closure of both sides of the bridge initially, with the M48 being used as a diversion route on Friday afternoon. While the eastbound side has since been reopened, the westbound carriageway remains closed, leading to congestion stretching back to junction 19 in Bristol. Drivers seeking alternative routes have caused the M5 to be very slow, stretching back to J17 at Cribbs Causeway.
The traffic monitoring system Inrix reported that cameras show the eastbound carriageway has been reopened, but the westbound side remains closed. All trapped traffic has now been released. As of the latest updates, congestion has eased on the approach to the eastbound side of the bridge, with diversions on the A48 being lifted. On the other side of the bridge, traffic on the M5 was brought to a standstill following a crash near the Almondsbury Interchange.
Images from traffic cameras at Magor show the live map displaying delays on the westbound section of the Prince of Wales bridge. The ongoing closure of the westbound carriageway continues to impact traffic flow in the region. This incident has sparked considerable inconvenience for commuters and travellers using the M4 motorway. Stay tuned for further updates on the situation as it develops.