SOUTH East Wales AM, William Graham, will tell the Senedd tomorrow that Monday’s crash on the M4 near Newport once again highlighted that "a single traffic artery" across South Wales was inadequate.

A three car crash shortly before 7.30am briefly closed the Westbound carriageway between junction 26, for Malpas, and junction, 27, for High Cross, causing travel chaos for morning commuters.

Drivers reported that their journey’s in to work were taking more than three times as long as usual as queues piled up along A449, A48 and other main roads leading to and from the motorway.

Mr Graham is to urge Carl Sargeant, the Minister for local government and communities to make a statement on what progress was being made to address the M4 relief issue.

Mr Graham is due to tell the Plenary meeting at the Senedd: "I appreciate that the consultation concerning the M4 Corridor Enhancement Measures from Magor to Castleton only concluded three months ago; however Monday’s crash between junctions 26 & 27 on the M4 around Newport highlighted once again the inadequacies of a single traffic artery across South Wales.

"Not only did the accident, which was on the Westbound side of the M4 result in 6 miles of tailbacks beyond junction 24, but traffic on the Eastbound side of the M4, slowing to look at this accident, caused further combined tailbacks of approximately 10 miles along both the M4 and the A48M.

"Can the Minister for Local Government and Communities make a statement on the progress towards addressing the inadequacies of a single traffic artery across South Wales and the implementation of the results of the consultation?"

Three options for easing congestion on the M4 were up for consultation.

Option A involved a new relief road being created. The dual carriageway would run from junction 29 of the M4 to junction 23 for the M48.

Option B proposes the widening of the M4 to four lanes, including the Brynglas tunnel

Option C puts forward a plan that would effectively turn the SDR into an expressway with flyovers