At 988 metres, the Severn Bridge has the third longest span of any bridge in Great Britain. Completed in 1966 to carry the M4 motorway (now the M48) across the Severn estuary, it was the first bridge in the world to use an aerodynamic deck design and zig-zag suspension hangers.
Contrary to popular belief, the Severn Bridge itself does not link England and Wales. The western end of the bridge is in Beachley, a peninsula between the Rivers Severn and Wye. The Welsh border runs down the middle of the Wye, and there is a smaller cable-stayed bridge to carry the motorway into Wales.
In the 1980s, the bridge had to undergo strengthening due to the increasing volume of traffic using it. In 1996, the Second Severn Crossing opened downstream to take some of the traffic, but this cable-stayed structure is not nearly as graceful as the original Severn Bridge.
Along one side of the Severn Bridge there is a footpath, and along the other a cycle path. It is possible to walk all the way from Chepstow to the Severn View service area at Aust, from where the main picture was taken. This walk offers splendid views of the Second Severn Crossing and, unlike drivers, those crossing under their own power do so free of charge when travelling in either direction!
Above The Severn Bridge as seen from a more unusual angle!