UPDATE 17.22PM:
#M48 Westbound between J1 #Aust and J2 #Chepstow #SevernBridge. The bridge is now open to restricted traffic westbound only. Eastbound remains closed. Vehicles over 6ft 9in, towing, or motorcycles, please use M4 #PrinceOfWalesBridge pic.twitter.com/gehtvDW67M
— Highways England (@HighwaysSWEST) February 11, 2020
UPDATE 12.52pm: The bridge is now open westbound but traffic is still being restricted. No vehicles over 6ft 9in, towing, or motorcycles are permitted.
#M48 Westbound between J1 #Aust and J2 #Chepstow #SevernBridge. The bridge is now open to restricted traffic westbound only. Eastbound remains closed. Vehicles over 6ft 9in, towing, or motorcycles, please use M4 #PrinceOfWalesBridge pic.twitter.com/gehtvDW67M
— Highways England (@HighwaysSWEST) February 11, 2020
UPDATE 7.56am: The lorry which overturned in high winds on the M48 Severn Bridge yesterday remains there this morning - and it remains unclear when it will be removed.
The wind will have to drop before the lorry can be removed and any damage to the bridge can be assessed, and the Met Office is forecasting winds of 30-40mph in the area for much of today.
The bridge closure is affecting traffic on the M4, with Chepstow area drivers wishing to travel into England having to go east to junction 23a (Magor services, A4810) to turn around, and there is congestion there as a result.
UPDATE 6.05pm: The lorry remains where it toppled over earlier today, and there is as yet no indication of when an attempt will be made to move it, as winds remain high, and will continue to be so through the night.
Diversions are operating, with the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge the alternative route.
UPDATE 2.28PM: Still no sign of the bridge being re-opened. Highways England has said that the road would remain closed "for some time", and the lorry would not be removed until wind speeds had dropped.
UPDATE 2.07PM: The lorry driver has been taken to hospital by ambulance.
UPDATE 1.56PM: The bridge remains closed to all traffic. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area and use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge instead.
UPDATE 12.49PM: The bridge may have been damaged as a result of the incident, according to early reports fro mthe scene.
UPDATE 12.30PM: South Western Ambulance Service has confirmed there is one patient requiring assistance. A service spokesman said senior paramedics and teams of specialist paramedics have been sent to the scene.
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Traffic cameras show the HGV on its side, on the eastbound carriageway heading towards England.
Ambulances, police vehicles, and a fire engine are at the scene, and the bridge is closed in both directions.
Highways England said, via the Severn Bridges Twitter account, that there had been a "sudden spike in high winds".
The Severn Bridge was closed for much of Sunday and Monday morning as high winds, caused by Storm Ciara, continued to affect the area.
The bridge was re-opened to all traffic shortly before 9am.
Emergency Services are dealing with a Road Traffic Collision on the M48 Junctions 1-2 (Eastbound Old Severn Bridge). The road is closed and diversions are in place. Please avoid the area if possible and find alternative routes for your journey. pic.twitter.com/NHGMfi26fh
— Gwent Police (@gwentpolice) February 10, 2020
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said its crews from Chepstow, Malpas, and Ely were attending the scene.
More to follow.
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