Story summary
The Welsh government is considering plans to close or partially close three M4 junctions near Newport as part of efforts to address congestion. This move, which could take effect by 2028, has sparked controversy; Dimitri Batrouni, Labour's council leader in Newport, criticized the proposed closures. Meanwhile, a new Menai bridge costing up to £700m and taking up to ten years to build is also being considered to alleviate traffic on another notorious bottleneck across the Menai Strait.
In addition, an 18-month study will examine various "road-based solutions" for the M4 congestion issue. The Welsh government has ruled out a previously proposed black route for an M4 relief road south of Newport along the Gwent Levels. Funding details and implementation timelines remain uncertain, with no clear plan on how these expensive projects would be financed.
Transport for Wales aims to support the acceleration of train stations in Cardiff Parkway, Magor, and Undy as part of broader efforts to improve transportation infrastructure in Wales. The government's new proposals follow previous plans developed in the 2010s, which were canceled by former Labour first minister Mark Drakeford in 2019.
Written for “Welsh Road Improvements Plan” on 2026-10-06,
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- Published
Junctions on the M4 in Newport could close, and a new bridge built across the Menai Strait, as part of Welsh government plans for two notorious transport bottlenecks.
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bridge → publish → bottlenecks
It will also begin an 18-month project looking at a range of "roads-based" options for the M4, that could include a new motorway or expanding the Brynglas Tunnels.
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that → begin → Tunnels
Ministers are considering whether to close or partially close three junctions, potentially by 2028.
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Ministers → consider → 2028
However, a review has warned that closing them could cause increased congestion and noise on alternative routes.
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closing → warn → routes
It is not clear at this stage how anything would be paid for - the new Menai crossing could cost up to £700m and take up to 10 years to be built
It is the latest set of proposals to tackle congestion on the M4, after plans for a relief road were developed in the 2010s and axed by former Labour first minister Mark Drakeford in 2019.
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plans → pay → 2019
The government said that Transport for Wales would provide support to "accelerate delivery" of train stations in Cardiff Parkway, Magor and Undy stations.
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Transport → say → stations
Proposed junction closures were criticised by the city's council leader, Labour's Dimitri Batrouni, while the Tories and Reform called for the Welsh government to get on with an M4 Relief Road.
In south Wales, the Welsh government is to hold an 18-month study that will look at a range of options for what it says are "road-based solutions" to congestion on the motorway.
Ministers have ruled out the black route previously proposed for the M4 Relief Road - a new motorway south of Newport along the Gwent Levels.
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Ministers → propose → Levels
However, it is understood that the study could still include a new motorway south of Newport.
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study → understand → Newport
Other options include widening the Brynglas Tunnels - one of the most significant causes of congestion on the M4 in Wales.
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options → include → Wales
The Welsh government also plans a five-year programme of changes to deliver "shorter-term benefits", including "a delivery plan to improve how the motorway is operated and managed".
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motorway → plan → plan
In a statement, the Deputy Transport Minister Mark Hooper said this could include potential junction closures in and around Newport to improve traffic flow.
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this → say → flow
The review found that measures such as these offer some of the quickest opportunities to improve traffic flow and resilience on the M4," he said.
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he → find → M4
The government is considering closing junction 27, at High Cross, and east-facing slip roads at junction 26 - Malpas - and junction 25 - Caerleon.
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government → consider → junction
However, firm decisions have not been made and ministers want to consider the impact on local roads, and speak to Newport council, before it goes ahead.
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it → make → council
The announcement follows a review by transport consultants at ARUP on some of the options that could be implemented along the M4 corridor, which warned that public acceptance of the junction closures was "likely to be low" among their users.
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acceptance → follow → users
It said: "There is a risk that economic costs would be redistributed rather than reduced, with poorer access for local businesses and increased congestion, noise and delay on alternative routes."
The review put the cost at £14m would reduce traffic by an estimated 3%.
"
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review → say → %
The capital cost would [be] relatively affordable, but the option would likely provide limited long-term value," the review said.
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review → provide → value
The ARUP report looked at eight different options, including new railway stations, a bus rapid transit scheme and road projects.
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report → look → stations
Widening the Brynglas tunnels, for example, could cost £1.7bn, but pose an "engineering/geotechnical risk" and major construction disruption.
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Widening → widen → risk
Changes to the A48 and A4810 to increase capacity - known as the Blue Route - are thought to cost £1.8bn, take eight years and reduce traffic on the M4 by 6%.
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Changes → increase → %
Other measures backed by the Welsh government include improving the A465 for freight, such as providing facilities for HGVs.
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measures → back → HGVs
Local resident Wendy Panting said: "It's horrendous.
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It → say → ?
We can't get out, we live just on the side of the M4 and we can't go east or west at any time of the day
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we → get → day
We've lived with it for a very, very long time and there's been congestion at certain times of the day, morning and evening, but now it's all day.
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it → live → day
"Something has got to be done because you can't move around here.
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you → get → ?
Roger Panting said he did not think there was "any other way around it".
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he → say → it
"I think it's going to become increasingly gridlocked.
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it → think → ?
It's gridlocked already and I don't see anything other than that [an M4 relief road] as being the solution," he said.
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he → gridlocke → that
"I mean you can tinker around with it, delay it all.
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you → mean → it
But unfortunately until you get a new relief road, Newport's going to be a major problem."
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Newport → get → road
Leo Quiqley said it was all a bit confusing.
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it → say → ?
"It was a bit of a song and dance about it, before there was talk of it happening," he said.
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he → be → it
"And then it obviously got cancelled again, so it would feel like a waste of their time if they're just going to spend 18 months deliberating it only to then just say 'oh well we're not going to do it again'."
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we → cancel → it
The Welsh government said it would immediately recommence development work for a third Menai crossing.
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it → say → crossing
Plans had been formally scrapped three years ago, although a year later the then Labour Transport Secretary Ken Skates suggested it was back on the agenda.
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it → scrap → agenda
Officials believe a new crossing could cost around £670m, with development work taking up to two years.
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work → believe → years
It would be at least eight to ten years before the crossing was built.
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crossing → build → ?
The A55 is currently carried over the Menai by the Britannia Bridge, and unlike the rest of the road it is a single carriageway.
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it → carry → road
The Menai Suspension Bridge has been restricted to vehicles under 7.5 tonnes since repair works began in October 2022.
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works → restrict → October
The government has ruled out a three-lane tidal-flow operation on the Britannia Bridge after a review found significant safety and operational concerns.
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review → rule → concerns
…and 30 more, not listed.
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