Shropshire Star

Second Severn Crossing to be renamed The Prince of Wales Bridge

Bridge connecting England and Wales will be officially renamed after the Prince of Wales in a ceremony later this year

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Embargoed to 0001 Thursday April 05 File photo dated 28/11/2004 of the Second Severn Crossing which is set to be renamed after Prince Charles to mark his 70th birthday year and 60 years since he became the Prince of Wales, the Welsh secretary Alun Cairns has said.

The Second Severn Crossing is to be renamed in honour of the Prince of Wales.

A ceremony will be held in south Wales on a yet-to-be-announced date this year to mark the rebranding, which is in honour of Prince Charles’s forthcoming 70th birthday in November and the 60th anniversary of the Queen creating him the Prince of Wales. His investiture took place at Caernarfon Castle in July 1969.

Welsh secretary Alun Cairns said: “I’m delighted to announce that with the agreement of the prime minister and Her Majesty the Queen, the Second Severn Crossing will be renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge.

“Renaming one of the most iconic landmarks in Wales is a fitting way to formally recognise his commitment and dedication to Wales and the UK as the Prince of Wales.”

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “Lower charges on the Severn bridges have already saved drivers more than £3 million – helping boost the economy in Wales and the south-west. This is a great way to usher in a new era for this iconic crossing.

“When the tolls are removed by the end of this year, more people will be able to take advantage of even more new job and business opportunities on both sides of the Prince of Wales Bridge.”

The £332m Second Severn Crossing, which was inaugurated by Prince Charles in 1996, was built in an effort to reduce traffic on its sister crossing, the Severn Bridge, which the Queen opened in 1966.

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