£45m to £830m: M4 relief options outlined (From South Wales Argus)

£45m to £830m: M4 relief options outlined

10:40pm Sunday 15th April 2012 in Gwent news By Ruth Mansfield

LOCAL residents were invited to find out more about proposals to tackle traffic congestion on the M4 at a drop-in exhibition yesterday.

The exhibition, held at Brynglas House, was part of a 13-week public consultation on proposed changes to improve traffic flow on the motorway between Castleton and Magor.

Suggestions include four major highways projects, investment in public transport, junction improvements and the promotion of alternative routes.

The proposed four major highway projects include a new dual carriageway to the south of Newport to relieve traffic on the M4 costing £830 million.

The second option is improvements to the Southern Distributor Road (SDR) with improvements to roundabouts and signal controls at all junctions costing an estimated £45million, while the third option is separated junction improvements on the SDR, costing £300million which could include the development of a flyover.

The final option is to widen the M4 between junctions 24 and 29 to create a four-lane motorway in each direction plus building an additional tunnel at Brynglas which would cost £550 million.

Visitors to the exhibition could view wall displays explaining the proposals and ask questions.

Questionnaires were also handed out for people to express their views.

Other exhibitions have been held across the area over the past month as well as workshops.

Current ward councillors for the Shaftesbury ward, Bob Poole and Paul Cockeram were at the exhibition yesterday.

They said: "Something has got to be done about the M4. We cannot ignore that.

"But we must stress this is the very first stage of consultation. If people have other ideas or views we would urge them to write to the Welsh Government."

The next drop-in exhibition will be held at Newport Centre on Tuesday from 12pm until 7pm.

The public consultation ends on June 6.

For more information on the proposals visit www.m4cem.com or www.wales.gov.uk/consultations