Severn pressure rises
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At peak traffic times there were lane closures on one day in four, she said.
The periodic lane closures were on top of the daily closure of one lane in each direction during the four-hour morning peak period.
Including the 17 days last November when there were roundthe-clock restrictions, there were lane closures on 236 days last year.
Meanwhile, a high-powered conference representing industries, commerce, local authorities and MPs from both sides of the Severn Estuary has asked the Government to start immediately to ensure the completion of a second Severn crossing as soon as possible.
The 130 delegates at the conference this month in Gwent County Hall also called for immediate improvements to alternative routes to ensure relief in the event of further traffic restrictions on the bridge.
They want work to proceed urgently with repairs to the bridge and ensure maximum use of it by improved traffic management during the repairs, and ensure the active involvement of the Welsh Office in the feasibility study and the management of traffic on the existing bridge during repairs.
Another suggestion made was that a feasibility study should be carried out into the possibility of running vehicle-carrying Hovercraft ferries across the Bristol Channel.
The Department of Transport told CM that no feasibility study has yet been undertaken, but the spokesman said that the Government was ready to act on a second crossing when the need arises.