THE Welsh Government are planning talks with contractors over the planned £185 million upgrade to Newport Docks.

The works would take place as the planned route for the M4 relief road route would pass through the port, meaning some of the existing infrastructure and services would need to be relocated.

Last week, First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed that a decision on the relief road would be announced within the first two weeks of the new Assembly term, which begins on Monday, April 29.

The M4 relief road scheme has proved controversial, with many criticising the environmental impact of the plans. A petition calling for the plans to be scrapped has attracted more than 20,000 signatures.

Should the project be green-lit, Ministers would want the dock works to be underway as soon as possible.

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: "Officials are engaging early, non-committal, discussions with potential contractors to enable minor preparatory steps to be taken" in case the relief road is approved.

A listing on the Welsh Government’s public sector contracting site, Sell2Wales, said: “Welsh Ministers wish to hold an Industry Day to introduce the Project to the market and also to assess market conditions for tendering for the works in order to inform their strategic decision-making on the packaging of the Project.”

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“A section of the proposed route passes through the Port of Newport. In order to accommodate the new motorway corridor, some of the port’s existing marine operations and port’s tenants would need to be relocated to new facilities within the port.

“The works, which include detailed design and construction of port buildings, civil infrastructure, dredging and marine structures, would be carried out under a contract entitled M4 Corridor around Newport Docks Enabling Works (“Project”) in advance of and separate to the main motorway works.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Government confirmed the project would cost £136m to relocate tenants within Newport Docks and accommodate the M4 Project, with £17.5m of project risk allowance, with contingency funds taking the total to the quoted £185 million.

The owners of Newport Docks, Associated British Ports, had previously objected to the relief road, but withdrew their objections in January 2018.