Conservative South Wales East AM William Graham has again called for the Welsh Government to look at proposals for an M4 relief road in Newport following last week’s fire in the Brynglas Tunnel.
Speaking before Friday’s re-opening of the tunnel, Mr Graham said: “Like many people who live and work in Newport, I have experienced at first hand the delays and frustration caused by the inadequacy of measures designed to improve traffic flow.
“The current suggested diversion route for motorists to take between the Coldra roundabout on Junction 24 of the M4 motorway and Tredegar Park at Junction 29 passes over eight roundabouts, four sets of traffic lights and runs alongside schools, retail parks, the Newport International Sports Village and residential areas and is clearly only suitable as a short term measure.
“It is the inadequacy of this diversion that underlines that the Assembly Government’s proposed solution is a poor alternative to the planned M4 relief road scrapped by the previous Assembly Government.”
Mr Graham previously called for another look at the scrapped M4 relief road back in February when there was another fire at the Brynglas Tunnel.
He added: “I firmly believe that the idea of M4 relief road will have to be re-visited. It is difficult to estimate the economic cost of extended journey times and Newport grinding to a standstill but the final figure will run into millions of pounds.”
All four lanes of the Brynglas Tunnel re-opened on Friday after the westbound tunnel was closed on Tuesday morning after a lorry fire.
Motorists had faced delays as a contraflow system was put in place on the eastbound carriageway.