ALMOST £26 million has been spent on maintaining Newport's Southern Distributor Road (SDR) since 2017, it has been revealed.

Newport City Council has paid this money to Morgan Vinci Ltd, who were part of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) that partially funded the construction of the road, which was completed in 2004.

Morgan Vinci Ltd is responsible for any major works on the SDR, though the council is the appointed operation and maintenance contractor responsible for routine maintenance.   

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The council pays Morgan Vinci Ltd for use of the road although they partially own it.

Cllr Matthew Evans, leader of the Conservative Group on the council said: “I was shocked to learn just how much money the council was still paying for this scheme.

"To put it into some perspective, when we were in control between 2008-2012 we resurfaced a third of the entire road and pavement network across the city for less.

"The SDR was never supposed to be an alternative to the M4 relief road, although ironically the Welsh Government could have built another one out of the £145 million they spent on that project.

"With the potential prospect of future tolls on the M4 we could see a vast increase of traffic on the SDR and Newport’s side streets which will see the council spending even more.

"It seems they have money to burn."

How much Newport City Council has spent on the SDR since 2017:

  • 2017/18: £6,229,144.58
  • 2018/19: £6,436,896.74
  • 2019/20: £6,437,953.14
  • 2020/21: £6,731,912.06

In total, the council have paid £25,835,906.52 to Morgan Vinci Ltd since 2017.

The SDR spans eight miles and extends from M4 junction 24 (Coldra roundabout) in the east, to the Ebbw Bridge roundabout in the west (as the A48) - the A48 itself continues to M4 junction 28.

Newport City Council had not responded to a request for comment as the Argus went to press.