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Factfile Images Timeline Exit List

Driving between South Wales and the West Country? The M49 is for you.

Even more than the M26, this road is truly a glorified sliproad. It connects traffic going between the South West (and Bristol) with Wales via the Second Severn Crossing. And it does absolutely nothing else. In fact, because it only links two other motorways, it is the only motorway in the UK that you can only reach by motorway - there is no way on from ordinary roads .

The junction at the northern end of the M49 is full access, when you would think it only needs to allow traffic to travel to and from the M4 to the west. This is perhaps to avoid the bridge tolls, perhaps to function as a bypass of the M5 in emergencies, or perhaps because an intermediate junction with a park and ride facility was once planned for the M49. There's plenty of theories for those two seemingly redundant sliproads, but not so many answers.

Motorway numbering conventions suggest that since the M49 lies south of the M4, it should really have a number beginning with 3. M39 anyone?

Factfile

Start	Avonmouth (M5)
Finish	Severn Beach (M4)
Passes	None
Length	5 miles
Terminates	None
Spurs	None
Meets	None

Images

Views of the M49 from on and off the road. If you have a photo to contribute, contact me.

Construction Timeline

When the various parts of the M49 were built, listed in chronological order.

Open	Jct	Section
1996		Entire motorway

Exit List

All the junctions and destinations along the route.

Junction		Northbound								Southbound
(M4 J22)		SOUTH WALES Cardiff Newport M4 London Bristol (M32 ) M4		M4		NORTH		M4 (M32)		N/A
		5 miles, 2 lanes								5 miles, 2 lanes
(M5 J18)		N/A		(A4) M5		SOUTH		M5		The SOUTH WEST Bristol Taunton M5 Avonmouth Bristol (W & ) A4