Ban to end
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OFF-PEAK lane restrictions on the Severn Bridge will end this month, Transport Under Secretary Lynda Chalker has told MPs.
But tolls will not be removed while the strengthening work to the bridge, which is causing tailbacks at peak-hours, is carried out.
This week, Mrs Chalker said there are no "insuperable problems" in strengthening the bridge to higher loading standards. This emerged from the initial report from consulting engineers Flint and Neill Partnership. Its full report is expected in the spring.
Mrs Chalker has already given a strong hint that the Government will not go ahead with proposals for a second crossing.
"At this stage I have no reason to disagree with the working party which concluded last year that on traffic grounds the need for a new crossing was not yet proven," she said.
Mrs Chalker was also pessimistic about using the proposed Severn barrage as another road crossing. Apart from the fact that there was little evidence that traffic would use it where the site was proposed, there would also be problems with the lowering and raising of one section of the barrage.