AS THE consultation on the new M4 closes, people calling for a new motorway through the Gwent Levels say that it’s needed on economic grounds, but fail to justify this. No economic model has been published that can justify spending £1 billion on a new motorway. Building a new motorway to reduce congestion will only generate more congestion. This occurred on the A34 Newbury Bypass, which the predicted traffic levels for 2010 were reached in 2003.
The M4 around Newport in mainly used by local traffic, not long distance through traffic. Reducing congestion can only be attained by a shift away from cars to public transport, cycling and walking. For example, the proposed South Wales Metro could take a lot of this traffic, as could properly integrated public transport interchanges, but not like the current example of the redeveloped Newport Bus Station. New railway stations at Llanwern, Magor and to the west of Newport would help too.
The estimated cost of over £1 billion for the motorway could be better spent on providing the above measures. This would generate more jobs, produce less pollution and carbon emissions and be more sustainable.
Dave Yates Durham Road Newport
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