[2] Before this date traffic between South West England and South Wales was either transported on a motorail service through the Severn Tunnel, used the Aust Ferry (which was unsuitable for large goods vehicles) or travelled through Gloucester to pass north of the Severn Estuary.

The government stated this is due to a large decrease in traffic following the opening of the Second Severn Crossing.

The government plans to improve connectivity between local roads and the M48 in Wales but state that building new junctions to a Motorway-standard would be too costly considering the lower amount of traffic the M48 now handles.

It was sold and operations continue in a new, smaller development on an adjacent site nearer the motorway junction.

[citation needed] Data from driver location signs are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information.