LONG delays and congestion around a busy motorway junction has again sparked fury, with a city AM raising the issue with the Welsh Government.

And a new task force is being put together to address the problems.

The much-maligned M4 J28 system near Newport was completed in September last year, and the works on three roundabouts - Tredegar Park, Bassaleg and Pont Ebbw - cost the tax payer £14million to complete.

But the new system has come under fire since it opened, with teething problems plaguing the signal sequencing programme that is supposed to ensure a smooth flow of traffic through all three roundabouts.

Traffic was particularly bad on Wednesday, May 8, when accidents on the M4 pushed the new system to breaking point and caused massive delays around the city.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Newport West’s Labour AM Jane Bryant, said the situation was "simply not good enough", and revealed she was due to meet with officials to discuss the issue.

Speaking to the South Wales Argus yesterday (Thursday, May 9), Ms Bryant confirmed she had urgently requested a written update on the steps officials plan to take to resolve the issue.

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Ms Bryant said: “Local people have been very patient whilst the works were carried out. It is unacceptable that the situation is now worse than before.

"Following my meeting with officials on Wednesday, I urgently requested a further written update on the steps they intend to take to resolve this issue.

"It’s incredibly frustrating for residents, commuters and businesses. We know that the situation is always exacerbated by any accident on the M4.

"Young people taking their GCSEs this week had the extra stress of worrying if they would get to their exams on time. The frustration and disruption cannot be underestimated.

"It is simply not good enough.”

This isn’t the first time Ms Bryant has spoken out about the frustrations of commuters passing through J28. In February, she revealed that 40 constituents complained in one day about gridlocked traffic and four mile tailbacks. That day, the issue was down to a traffic light malfunction.

In a speech to the Assembly, Ms Bryant said: “Commuters are facing significant delays in all directions and I’ve raised this on many occasions with the minister, officials and Costain, and unfortunately this is not an isolated incident.

“In fact, it occurs daily and can’t simply be attributed to teething problems.”

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “Following a productive meeting with the relevant AMs we are taking steps to initiate a Newport Task Force to develop and implement quick measures to improve transport in the area.

“Whilst this process is necessary regardless, given the first minister has stated his intention to announce his decision on the M4 project in early June we will announce further details on the Task Force after that.”