New access road for Newport moves a stage closer

13th Feb 2012

Once finished the new route, which will provide a major boost to the local economy and significantly improve the transport infrastructure surrounding Newport, will connect the Newport Southern Distributor road with junction 23A of the M4.

The works, which are the second phase in developments to the former steelworks access road following an initial £1.75m investment to the new route, will involve:

• improving and resurfacing of the three-mile long dual carriageway road including the provision of a 2.5 metre wide combined footway/cycleway
• provision of a combined cycle/footbridge over Monk’s Ditch
• improvements to drainage

There will also be improvements to the existing single carriageway highway between Tata’s eastern entrance up to the M4 which will involve:

• resurfacing of two miles of the existing road
• improvements to drainage to take into account the Caldicot Level Site of Special Scientific Interest
• installation of traffic signals with the B4245 road to and from Magor
• provision of mammal crossings and protective fencing

The Minister with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, said,

“Bringing the former access road of the old Llanwern steelworks up to a public highway standard carriageway will help ease congestion on the M4 around Newport.

“The development of this new road, which is both sustainable and affordable, will also have a positive impact to the economy of South East Wales both in terms of improved transport links for business but also in terms of the construction jobs that will be created.”

The development of this new dual carriageway plays a key part in Welsh Government plans to improve infrastructure links along the M4 corridor between Castleton and Magor and is the type of investment that will feature in the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan that is currently being developed.

Monmouthshire Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Cllr Bryan Jones said,

“The new road will offer an alternative route to motorists should an incident occur on the M4 through Newport but will also offer an improved route for residents of Monmouthshire to access to the south area of Newport.

“Monmouthshire County Council will be working closely with the contractor undertaking the junction improvement works with the B4245 to minimise delays however once the works are complete residents and businesses in the Magor and Newport area will benefit from the changes.”

Construction of the new route will be carried out by local contractor BAM Nuttall and designers Arup.

A public exhibition that will help explain the construction works and traffic management arrangement to local residents will be on Tuesday 28 February 2012 at Ebenezor Baptist Church in Magor between 1pm and 7pm.

Every effort will be made to keep disruption to the public to a minimum during construction.

It’s anticipated that the new route will be completed in Spring 2013.

February - 2012