A go-ahead for a third Menai crossing and plans for remodelling three major motorway junctions on the M4 around Newport at a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds were announced today.
Addressing the Senedd, Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper, set out action that will be taken now, alongside longer-term solutions.
The review into the Menai crossings confirmed that capacity remains the key challenge for communities, businesses, and travellers on Ynys Môn and across north Wales when crossings are restricted or closed.
The Welsh Government will take action in three areas:
Immediate recommencement of development work for a third Menai crossing, including design work, environmental assessment, business case development, and statutory approvals. This is expected to take several years to complete.
Continued investment in the management, maintenance, and operation of the existing crossings, to keep them safe and reliable will be undertaken with investment in wind deflectors, variable speed limits, and other operational improvements to reduce disruption and keep traffic moving.
The M4 around Newport is one of the most important transport corridors in Wales, relied upon daily by thousands of people and businesses and is a bottleneck at holiday times and when major sporting and entertainment events are staged in Cardiff and Swansea.
The review found that congestion continues to cause unreliable journeys and disruption, and that no single intervention can solve the problem on its own.
The Labour controlled Welsh Government spent £157M on investigations into a southern relief road around Newport before the then First Minister Mark Drakeford in 2019 unilaterally axed the scheme in favour of improving existing roads in the area and tolling the M4 instead. It also introduced a 50mph limit between the junctions.
However, alongside a range of other interventions, it’s concluded that road infrastructure improvement is needed. Given the complex range of options possible, the Welsh Government has announced an 18-month study into a range of road-based solutions for the M4 around Newport, after which time a preferred option for a roads-based solution will be selected.
Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper said, “People want action, not endless discussion. They want reliable journeys, less disruption and confidence that Government is getting on with improving things and making a difference to people’s lives. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.
“We will carry out an 18-month study to consider a range of road-based solutions for the M4 around Newport. Alongside that work, we are taking action to reduce peak-hour traffic by up to around one in ten vehicles. Every vehicle taken off the road helps on a motorway that is already operating at or beyond capacity at the busiest times.
“People on Ynys Môn and across the north of Wales have waited a long time for greater certainty about the future of the crossings. Today we are setting out a clear way forward, with action to improve the resilience of the existing crossings while immediately beginning work to develop a third crossing.
“Together these measures should make a noticeable difference to people as they go about their daily lives delivering better travel choices, improved resilience and quicker and more reliable journeys.”
Opposition to M4 plan
But the plans immediately drew criticism from opposition Conservatives in the Senedd and in a press statement said, “The Welsh Government must withdraw plans to close motorway junctions on the M4, Welsh Conservatives said today, warning the proposal could worsen congestion and create chaos around Newport.
The Welsh Government has set out a series of potential short-term measures, which include the potential closure of multiple motorway junctions, namely Junction 27 at High Cross, Junction 26 at Malpas and Junction 25 at Caerleon.
The statement from the Deputy Minister for Transport also confirmed investment in public transport with several new train stations to be fast-tracked.
Natasha Asghar MS, Senedd Member for Casnewydd Islwyn, said, “No one can deny that current levels of congestion around Newport and specifically at the Brynglas Tunnels are a barrier to economic growth, investment and the daily lives of thousands of people.
“Closing important and well-used motorway junctions will simply move congestion around and clog up A roads and other city streets rather than creating additional road capacity.
“The Welsh Government needs to explain what modelling has been done on the impact of junction closures before burdening commuters, businesses and visitors with this potentially pointless experiment which will wage war against motorists across the city and beyond.
“We also need to know what discussions have taken place with Newport City Council, local businesses and other key stakeholders before these proposals are taken forward.
“The Welsh Government should also learn from previous experience rather than repeat it. When Junction 41 on the M4 at Port Talbot was closed during rush-hour periods, the resulting disruption generated significant concern amongst the public, businesses and in the end had to be reversed.
“The wider package of measures announced by the Welsh Government, including progressing new train stations and better facilities for freight should be welcomed.
“But none of these are a substitute for a long-term solution to the fundamental capacity problems on the M4 around Newport, which can only be addressed by increasing capacity. The best way to do this is to build an M4 relief road.”
Commenting on the announcement that the Welsh Government will progress plans for a third crossing over the Menai Straits, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for the Economy, said, “Disruption and congestion on the Menai Crossings are a daily reminder of the need for greater resilience in transport connectivity in North Wales.
“A third crossing to Ynys Môn and improving access to the port of Holyhead, would provide additional capacity and give residents, businesses and visitors greater confidence in our transport network.
“We welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment to a third crossing, but the priority now must be to maintain momentum and bring forward a fully funded and deliverable scheme as soon as possible.”
