Protecting structural steelwork on the SEVERN/WYE CROSSING

ROAD ACCESS between South Wales and Southern England has been notable for its inadequacy even in the notoriously poor road system of Britain. Two major problems are the Severn estuary and valley, which runs inland north‐easterly to form a natural barrier between the two areas, and the enormous growth of traffic. South Wales has developed considerably as an industrial area, and a large volume of industrial and commercial road vehicles, combined with commuting and heavy tourist traffic is channelled through Gloucester, via a narrow bridge, and the cramped hilly streets of Chepstow, where the popular race meetings periodically help to bring road communication to a standstill.