This briefing explains why National Highways has imposed a 7.5‑tonne weight restriction on the M48 Severn Bridge, what investigations found about cable deterioration, and how traffic is being managed in the interim. It outlines the proposed signal‑controlled “medium‑term solution” to re‑admit HGVs while protecting the ageing structure, expected timescales, and the implications for hauliers, local communities and cross‑border connectivity between England and Wales.