Severn Bridge and Aust Viaduct First Severn Crossing
SEVERN BRIDGE AND AUST VIADUCT FIRST SEVERN CROSSING, M48 MOTORWAY
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1119760
- Date first listed:
- 29-May-1998
- List Entry Name:
- Severn Bridge and Aust Viaduct First Severn Crossing
- Statutory Address:
- SEVERN BRIDGE AND AUST VIADUCT FIRST SEVERN CROSSING, M48 MOTORWAY
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-08-20
- Reference:
- IOE01/01467/30
- Rights:
- © Mr Robert England. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1119760
- Date first listed:
- 29-May-1998
- List Entry Name:
- Severn Bridge and Aust Viaduct First Severn Crossing
- Statutory Address 1:
- SEVERN BRIDGE AND AUST VIADUCT FIRST SEVERN CROSSING, M48 MOTORWAY
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- SEVERN BRIDGE AND AUST VIADUCT FIRST SEVERN CROSSING, M48 MOTORWAY
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- South Gloucestershire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Aust
- National Grid Reference:
- ST5590090230
Details
AUST
ST58NE
297-0/7/10005
M48 MOTORWAY
Severn Bridge and Aust Viaduct First Severn Crossing
I
Includes: Severn Bridge and Aust Viaduct, First Severn Crossing, M48 Motorway Beachley, Tidenham.
Motorway bridge over River Severn and its eastern approach viaduct. 1961-1966. Freeman Fox and Partners in association with Mott, Hay and Anderson, consulting architect Sir Percy Thomas. Bridge has steel cables, deck and towers, concrete substructure and foundation (cable anchorages and piers for towers); viaduct structure steel with concrete deck slab. Suspension bridge (spans 305m - 987.5m - 305m) with aerodynamically shaped deck and inclined hangers; first bridge in the world to be built with these features. Viaduct 156.5m long, has three spans consisting of two box girders acting compositely with concrete slab. Part of the First Severn Crossing for the M48 (formerly M4), consisting of Aust Viaduct, Severn Bridge and Wye Viaduct (qv). Strengthened and refurbished 1985-91 without seriously changing appearance. Bridge recently repainted white to reduce thermal stress (not original colour, but successful).
This is the first bridge in the world to use the revolutionary concept of the streamlined deck and inclined hangers, and was an early example of a fully welded steel deck. It was by far the longest span in England when it was built.
This entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 5 September 2017.
The asset was previously listed twice also under the parish of Tidenham, Forest of Dean at List entry 1379827. This entry was removed from the List on 5 September 2017.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 469289
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Brown, D J, Bridges 1965 To 1993, (1993)
Henry, D, Jerome, J A, Modern British Bridges, (1965)
Flint, AR, Strengthening and Refurbishment of the Severn Crossing in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Structures and Buildings, Vol. 94, Issue 1, (1992), .
Roberts, G, Severn Bridge Design and Contract Arrangements in Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineering, Vol. 41, Issue 1, (1968), .
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 02-Jul-2026 at 19:12:45.
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