CONCERNS have been raised about congestion around Junction 28, in Newport – currently ongoing major improvement works.

The works – which cover Bassaleg roundabout, Tredegar Park roundabout, and Pont Ebbw roundabout - started in March and are expected to take up to 16 months to complete.

Congestion in the area is said to have worsened in the last few days though, particularly at rush hour, with frustration raised about the situation.

Graig Cllr David Williams said he received half a dozen complaints from residents about heavy traffic in one day.

“We knew there would be some problems, but this is a bit ridiculous,” he added.

“My wife was caught up in the traffic. You shouldn’t have delays at 10.30am.”

Cllr Williams said he thought that changes to traffic lights at Bassaleg roundabout were to blame.

He suggested turning them off at certain points in the day to ease the flow of traffic.

Colin Hall, of Court Crescent and Forge Lane residents committee, echoed his views, and said he had been told traffic in Bassaleg on Wednesday night was queueing back to the Friendly Fox pub.

“I don’t think the system is working, the sequence of the lights is not right,” he added.

Tom Kenyon, the project manager for Costain - the principal contractor for the M4 J28 improvement scheme - said: “We activated the new traffic signals at Bassaleg roundabout yesterday afternoon and are aware this resulted in traffic delays heading north up the A467 to Bassaleg.

"Some short term disruption over the first few days following a new traffic signal installation is not unusual whilst the signal timings are configured to match traffic flows. We very much regret the delays and inconvenience caused. ”