Wales's Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates has been visiting the M4’s Brynglas tunnels to see how essential works are progressing and warned about future capacity on the motorway.
The Economy Secretary said that while he was pleased to see that work to improve the vital stretch of road was on course and due to complete by early 2018, his visit had only served to highlight that maintaining the current stretch of motorway would not provide the long term traffic solution urgently needed for this section of the M4.
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “This is a vital stretch of road which sees at least 75,000 vehicles pass through it every day. The tunnels were only temporarily repaired following a fire in 2011 and are now also undergoing essential drainage, carriageway, lighting, mechanical and electrical improvements.
“The Welsh Government has invested £40 million pounds in this current work to bring the tunnels up to standards and I’m delighted that the work is progressing so well.
“The overnight timing of the work has been designed to ensure repairs are carried out as safely and quickly as reasonably possible, with minimal possible disruption to road users. This means having contractors working through the night, five days a week and my thanks goes to them for the their important work to ensure that the tunnels are safe and fit for purpose.
“Whilst maintaining and improving the current infrastructure is clearly essential, there is no question that this alone will not resolve the wider congestion issues on the M4 around Newport.
“We’ve made a clear commitment to delivering a sustainable solution to the continuing traffic problems on the M4 around Newport and communities and businesses can be re-assured that, subject to inquiry approval, this long term solution will be delivered in 2021.”
