The M4 Motorway (Prince of Wales Bridge) (Temporary Restriction and Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2018

Statutory Instruments

2018 No. 1289

Road Traffic

The M4 Motorway (Prince of Wales Bridge) (Temporary Restriction and Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2018

Made

23rd November 2018

Coming into force

27th November 2018

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 14(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984(1), and regulation 16(2) of the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982(2), hereby makes the following Order:-

1.  This Order may be cited as the M4 Motorway (Prince of Wales Bridge) (Temporary Restriction and Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2018 and shall come into force on 27th November 2018.

2.  In this Order-

“the first length of the M4” means the eastbound and westbound carriageways of the M4 between the mechanical joint at the western end of the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge and a point 740 metres east of the centre of the bridge over the rail line to Severn Tunnel Junction;

“the second length of the M4” means the eastbound and westbound carriageways of the M4 between a point 740 metres east of the centre of the bridge over the rail line to Severn Tunnel Junction and a point 148 metres east of the tip of the nosing of the westbound entry slip road at M4 Junction 22;

“the third length of the M4” means—

(i)

the eastbound carriageway of the M4 from a point 740 metres east of the centre of the bridge over the rail line to Severn Tunnel Junction to a point 400m east of Station Road Bridge; and

(ii)

the westbound carriageway of the M4 from a point from 900m east of Station Road Bridge to a point a point 740 metres east of the centre of the bridge over the rail line to Severn Tunnel Junction;

“tip of the nosing” means the first point where an entry slip road joins the carriageway of a motorway or the last point where an exit slip road leaves the carriageway of a motorway;

“the hard shoulder” means the hard shoulder within the meaning of regulation 3(1)(3) of the Regulations which is adjacent to the second length of the M4;

“the works” means works to remove the toll booths from the toll plaza area;

“the works period” means the period starting at 20.00 hours on Saturday 1st December 2018 and ending when the said works have been completed;

“a works period” means a period of 10 hours starting at 20.00 on Saturday 1st December 2018 and on any subsequent day and ending when the said works have been completed.

3.  Subject to articles 5 and 8 no person shall, during the works period:

(a) drive any motor vehicle at a speed exceeding 50 miles per hour on the first length of the M4;

(b) cause or permit any vehicle with an overall width exceeding 2.5 metres to enter or proceed in any lane other than the left hand lane of the third length of the M4.

4.  Subject as mentioned in articles 5 and 6 no person shall, during a works period, cause or permit any vehicle to enter or proceed in the second length of the M4.

5.  Articles 3 and 4 apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs and shall not apply to:

(a) a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue authority or ambulance purposes;

(b) anything done at the direction of, or with the permission of, a constable.

6.  The provisions of article 4 shall not apply to a vehicle being used in connection with the said works, for traffic officer purposes or for winter maintenance purposes.

7.  During the works period, regulation 5 and (insofar as it relates to a vehicle being driven) regulation 9 of the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 are hereby suspended, in respect of the hard shoulder, at such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs.

8.  No speed limit imposed by this order applies to vehicles falling within regulation 3(4) of the Road Traffic Exemptions (Special Forces) (Variation and Amendment) Regulations 2011 when used in accordance with regulations 3(5) of those Regulations.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Andy Rhind

A Senior Civil Servant in the Department for Transport

23rd November 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order authorises the temporary restriction of traffic on the eastbound and westbound carriageways of the M4 Motorway over the Prince of Wales Bridge starting on 1st December 2018 to enable works to take place. Article 3 imposes a 50 miles per hour speed limit and restricts vehicles over 2.5 metres in width to the left hand lane. Article 4 authorises overnight closures between 8:00pm and 6:00am.

(1)

1984 c. 27. A new section 14 was inserted by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991 (c. 26), section 1(1) and paragraph 1 of Schedule 1. There is a further amendment to section 14 that is not relevant to this instrument.

(2)

S.I. 1982/1163, as amended by the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), paragraph 190 of Schedule 8(4) and S.I. 1983/374, 1984/1479, 1992/1364, 1995/158, 1996/3053, 2004/3168, 2004/3258 and 2006/594.