M48 motorway (Great Britain)

M48
The Severn Bridge is the most prominent landmark on the M48.
Route information
Maintained by Highways England and the South Wales Trunk Road Agency
Length:	12 mi (19 km)
Existed:	1966 – present
Major junctions
East end:	Awkley
	J21 → M4 motorway J23 → M4 motorway
West end:	Undy
Location
Primary destinations:	Chepstow
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones

The M48 is a 12-mile (19 km) long motorway in Great Britain, which connects Gloucestershire, England, and Monmouthshire, Wales, via the original Severn Bridge. The M48 is anomalously numbered, as it is entirely to the west of the M5 motorway thus falling into zone 5 of the motorway numbering system. It is one of only three motorways in Wales.

Travelling from east to west, after leaving the M4 at Awkley, Junction 21, near Olveston in England, the M48 begins by heading north-west towards Aust, Junction 1. It then passes through a toll booth for westbound traffic only, and crosses the Severn and Wye rivers via their respective bridges. Entering Wales, the M48 heads south-west after Junction 2, passing to the south of Chepstow, past Crick and continuing in a south westerly direction, passing Caldicot and Rogiet. The motorway rejoins the M4 at Undy, Junction 23 to the east of Magor.

Junction 2 can be reached via the A466, which leads to the A48. The junction gives access to the Wye Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. When travelling either east or west on the M4, the M48 is the most direct route for Chepstow and Caldicot.