M4 relief road

A second South Wales motorway was first discussed in the late 1980s, sited to the south of Newport running {{convert|14|mi|0}} parallel to the existing M4 motorway from junction 23A at Magor, to junction 29 at Castleton, thus avoiding the need to widen the Brynglas Tunnels.{{cite web|url=http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads2/M4/?lang=en |title=New M4 |access-date=20 September 2008 |publisher=Welsh Assembly Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210132542/http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads2/M4/?lang=en |archive-date=10 December 2008 }} The tunnels can no longer be expanded or relocated due to geological issues in the area, which has meant subsidence to a number of houses above the tunnels since construction took place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunneltalk.com/Fire-safety-Nov11-Brynglas-historic-design-and-construction-review.php|title=Brynglas: A story of innovative solutions|website=www.tunneltalk.com|access-date=2019-12-30}}

The concept behind the motorway was first based on the M6 Toll motorway, a relief road built to reduce traffic on the M6 motorway around Birmingham.

The existing motorway runs through the Brynglas Tunnels north of Newport city centre.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4074115.stm M4 Relief road plan unveiled], BBC News, 7 December 2004 Like many stretches of motorway, it does not conform to current motorway standards: it lacks continuous hard shoulders due to previous widening, has closely spaced junctions and narrows to a restricted two-lane section through the Brynglas Tunnels, where heavy congestion occurs at peak hours.

A 50mph average speed zone and a 44t weight limit is in place between junctions 24 and 28. M4 slip roads at Junction 25 (Caerleon Road) are diverted to reduce traffic through the tunnels. M4 Westbound traffic joining at Junction 25 is diverted via Junction 25A/A4042 (Heidenheim Drive)/A4051 (Malpas Road) to Junction 26. Similarly eastbound traffic wishing to exit at Junction 25 is diverted from Junction 26 via the A4051/A4042/Junction 25A. This adds to congestion on Malpas Road and other local roads near Newport city centre at peak times.

According to the Welsh Government, traffic data shows that the motorway is operating at nearly "double its vehicle capacity" at peak times.

An M4 relief road between Magor and Castleton was first proposed by the Welsh Office in 1991, but there was little progress on the scheme in the following years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/4496647.m4-relief-road-timeline/|title=M4 RELIEF ROAD: Timeline|website=South Wales Argus}}

Plans for the New M4 were announced on 3 March 2006 as part of a raft of measures to improve road transport in Wales. The road would have cost between £350 million (later rising by £660m to an estimated £1 billion), and financed by a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) with the Welsh Assembly.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbrd.co.uk/futures/new/m4toll.shtml |title=CBRD M4 Toll Feature |work=cbrd.co.uk |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=30 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930164129/http://cbrd.co.uk/futures/new/m4toll.shtml}} It was planned to be the United Kingdom's second full toll-paying motorway, after the M6 Toll.

Proposals in 2004 for the road to be tolled were met with scepticism. Several experts suggested that a new toll road would be "a white elephant for 20 hours a day", due to the greatly variable traffic levels through the Brynglas Tunnels. Outside peak hours, the tunnels would still have been the preferable option to taking a toll road for most people. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Jenny Randerson raised concerns about whether a toll would have been necessary on the road, as the Severn Bridge, less than {{convert|10|mi|0}} to the east, also charges a toll to cross it and compared the plan to a "double tax on Wales". The Road Haulage Association said that an additional toll was "almost rubbing salt into the wound".

On 15 July 2009, the Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones announced that the plans for the M4 relief were to be dropped and replaced by a package of measures to improve the flow of traffic.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8152406.stm|title=M4 and airport road plans dropped|date=15 July 2009|work=BBC News}} In November 2009, Dr. Anthony Beresford of the Business School at Cardiff University called for the decision to cancel the road to be overturned.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8372918.stm 'Don't scrap M4 relief road' call, BBC News, 24 November 2009]. Accessed 24 November 2009

File:The River Usk side of Newport Docks - geograph.org.uk - 356135.jpg at Newport Docks, close to where the new road would cross the river. The distant building with the tall chimney is Uskmouth Power Station.]]

In December 2011, the Welsh Government entered into discussions with the incoming UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne to discuss financial assistance for the road project.{{cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/12/05/plans-for-m4-relief-road-back-on-the-agenda-two-years-after-being-scrapped-91466-29894431/|author=Rhodri Clark|title=Plans for M4 relief road back on the agenda – two years after being scrapped|work=Western Mail|date=5 December 2011}}

In February 2012 related work started on a dual-carriageway road connecting Newport's southern distributor road to junction 23A of the M4 using part of the proposed route of the M4 relief road and a former access road to the Llanwern steelworks.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-17011881|title=Llanwern steelworks road relief for Newport M4 bottleneck|date=13 February 2012|work=BBC News}}

A public consultation exercise on options for improving the capacity of the M4 corridor around Newport opened on 5 March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.m4cem.com/overview.html|title=M4 corridor enhancement measures: Overview|access-date=2012-03-05}} The review was published in August 2014,{{Cite web|url=https://gov.wales/m4-corridor-around-newport-0|title=M4 Corridor around Newport|website=gov.wales|language=en|access-date=2019-12-30}} and a multiple potential routes were presented. However opponents of the road criticised the report for excluding the effects of any potential growth in traffic.{{Cite web|url=http://bailey.persona-pi.com/Public-Inquiries/M4-Newport/Third%20Parties/M4%20-%20Proofs/Gwent%20Wildlife%20Trust/Prof%20John%20Whitelegg%20-%20Proof%20of%20Evidence%20FINAL1.pdf|title=Public Local Inquiry into the M4 relief road around Newport: The Economic case: jobs, inward Investment and regeneration|last=Whitelegg|first=John|date=1 February 2017|website=Persona PI|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230204728/http://bailey.persona-pi.com/Public-Inquiries/M4-Newport/Third%20Parties/M4%20-%20Proofs/Gwent%20Wildlife%20Trust/Prof%20John%20Whitelegg%20-%20Proof%20of%20Evidence%20FINAL1.pdf|archive-date=30 December 2019|access-date=30 December 2019}} The report assumed the new road would see no growth in vehicle use, a finding which is contrary to induced demand studies which show road expansion leads to significant increases in vehicle use. It was also criticised for focussing on the economic impacts over the negative consequences for the environment and public transport use.

On 2 April 2013 it was reported that the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was likely to give support to the scheme in the Autumn Statement and various newspapers reporting that it would be tolled. The Welsh Government countered, saying that it had no plans for tolling.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21999518|title=M4 relief road: Chancellor 'to approve toll plan'|work=BBC News}} Osborne also denied any plans for tolling.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-22015990|title=Osborne backs M4 relief road plan|date=3 April 2013|work=BBC News}} A consultation on the proposed plan ran from 23 September to 16 December 2013.http://www.m4newport.com/ Official M4 CORRIDOR AROUND NEWPORT website{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-24194934|title=£1bn M4 relief road plan for Newport out to consultation|work=BBC News|date=23 September 2013}}

In April 2013, the Conservative coalition formalised an agreement with the Welsh Government for a £830m interest-payable loan for the construction of the road at 2011 costs.

On 16 July 2014, Wales Transport Minister Edwina Hart said that the preferred "black route" south of Newport between Junctions 23 and 29, including a new crossing of the River Usk, would go ahead despite political opposition. She said that it would boost the economy, ease traffic congestion and improve road capacity. The scheme would be the largest capital investment programme ever undertaken by the Welsh Government and was hoped that it would be finished by 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28333835/|title=£1bn M4 relief road around Newport given green light|work=BBC News|date=16 July 2014}}

In 2017, following a manifesto pledge by Theresa May at the 2017 General Election, Highways England removed road tolls on the Severn Bridges. This decision was assessed as causing an increase in traffic of 20% over the M4 bridge and 7% of traffic at the tunnels, increasing the already considerable congestion in Newport throughout 2018 and 2019.

In January 2018 the Welsh Government announced costs would rise further for the road. This was a result of opposition by Associated British Ports who sought an additional £135m for compensation to improve Newport Docks which would have been affected by the Black Route.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-42716981|title=New M4 set to cost more than £1.4bn|date=2018-01-17|access-date=2019-12-30|language=en-GB}}

Welsh Government Director of Economic Infrastructure Simon Jones told the Assembly Economy Committee in early 2018 that the road would cost more than the £1.4bn first estimated due to additional VAT payments which would need to be paid by the Welsh Government.

In June 2018 the Department for Transport updated its Appraisal and Modelling Strategy which assesses Investment Decisions financed by the Government. It stated that new research was being commissioned to review how increases in road capacity lead to additional traffic (known as induced demand).{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/716981/appraisal-and-modelling-strategy-consultation.pdf|title=Appraisal and Modelling Strategy - Informing Future Investment Decisions|date=1 June 2018|website=Department for Transport|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726150032/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/716981/appraisal-and-modelling-strategy-consultation.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2019|access-date=30 December 2019}} It stated that Government agencies need to update assumptions on impact. The 2012 M4 Enquiry's research had assumed zero per cent change to the rate of car use, due to the decision by the Enquiry not to commission any transport growth modelling. The UK Government's own findings state that "induced demand is likely to be higher for capacity improvements in urban areas or on highly congested routes" and that the true scale of increased traffic caused by road expansion is not fully studied in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/762976/latest-evidence-on-induced-travel-demand-an-evidence-review.pdf|title=Latest Evidence on Induced Travel Demand: An Evidence Review|date=1 May 2018|website=Department for Transport|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230205639/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/762976/latest-evidence-on-induced-travel-demand-an-evidence-review.pdf|archive-date=30 December 2019|access-date=30 December 2019}}

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones (a supporter of the road) stepped down in 2018, leaving the decision to his successor, Mark Drakeford. Drakeford was required to delay his decision due to the 2019 Newport West by-election purdah.

On 4 June 2019 the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, announced that the scheme would not proceed on the basis of escalating costs now at £1.4bn. 2018 estimates had however already shown that the £1.4bn figure would have been far higher once VAT costs and overspending was accounted for. Drakeford further attributed the decision to the global climate crisis and local "environmental impacts" to the Gwent Levels. The First Minister also stated he had disagreed with the Public Inquiry which believed that the scheme represented value for money.

The Confederation of British Industry described the decision not to proceed as "a dark day for the Welsh economy", but Friends of the Earth welcomed the decision, saying it was "great news for Wales and the planet".[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48512697 "Welsh Government scraps M4 relief road", BBC Wales, 4 June 2019]. Retrieved 4 June 2019

In September 2020 there was widespread discussion about the impact of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, put forward to transfer powers previously held by the European Union, which would take effect in 2021 after the Transition Period.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-54086118 "Q&A: Could UK government build an M4 relief road?", BBC Wales, 10 September 2020] Retrieved 10 September 2020 The bill drew the criticism of some, including the Welsh Government, who argued that it would allow the Westminster Government to push forward with the M4 Relief Road despite Welsh Government opposition. The bill would, for the first time since devolution, allow the use of "parliamentary funds to assist with 'promoting economic development' or 'providing infrastructure'" in the devolved nations.[https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18709076.welsh-government-slams-westminster-newport-relief-road-power-grab/ "Welsh Government slams Westminster Newport Relief Road power grab", South Wales Argus, 10 September 2020]. Retrieved 10 September 2020 However the BBC reported that while the bill would enable the Government to "finance" such projects, it would not resolve the issue of obtaining planning permission and other hurdles to constructing the road, many of which remain devolved to Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Authorities.

==Plan==

The current M4 would have been diverted at Magor to follow the A4810 Eastern Distributor Road, before diverting away from it across the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels. The first junction would then be located just south of the steelworks site to provide access to the Glan Llyn development site. This would have been followed by a bridge over the River Usk, before another junction over the docks providing a link to the A48 Southern Distributor Road. The remainder of the route would have crossed the levels just south of Duffryn, before an interchange with the current M4 and A48(M) at Castleton.

As part of improving traffic flow around Newport, the following measures have also been considered:

• Creating a link between the M4, M48 and B4245
• Improvements to Junction 28 Tredegar Park
• Removing the eastern sliproads at Junction 26 Malpas
• Downgrading the current M4 to a trunk road, to lower specifications

The government also expects the South Wales Metro to relieve congestion on the M4.{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=Anna|date=2020-11-26|title=Six new train stations proposed to cut M4 traffic instead of relief road|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/m4-relief-road-commission-plan-19348191|access-date=2020-11-26|website=WalesOnline|language=en}}

The Public Enquiry of August 2014 was criticised at the time for excluding the effects of any potential growth in traffic. The report assumed the new road would see no growth in vehicle use, a finding which is contrary to induced demand studies which show road expansion leads to significant increases in vehicle use. It was also criticised for focussing on the economic impacts over the negative consequences for the environment and public transport use.

The initial enquiry was also seen as flawed after omitting compensation payments owed to Associated British Ports and to HM Revenue and Customs for VAT. In January 2018 the Welsh Government announced costs would rise by £135m for compensation to improve Newport Docks which would have been affected by the Black Route. Welsh Government Director of Economic Infrastructure Simon Jones in early 2018 informed the Government that the £1.4bn figure would not be sufficient due to additional VAT payments which would need to be paid.{{Cite news|date=2018-01-17|title=New M4 set to cost more than £1.4bn|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-42716981|access-date=2020-09-10}}

Friends of the Earth claimed that the road would cause great damage to local wildlife habitats as it was planned to pass through the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels, an area of natural wetlands. They also raised concerns about the large sum of public money that would have been used to fund the project, claiming that it could be better spent improving the local railway network. After the July 2014 announcement that the scheme would go ahead, Gareth Clubb of Friends of the Earth Cymru called the proposal "utterly unnecessary and terribly damaging". The Campaign Against the Levels Motorway (CALM) claimed that the proposed motorway would ruin a historic landscape and increase carbon emissions.{{cite web|url=http://www.savethelevels.org.uk/|title=CALM Home Page|publisher=Campaign Against the Levels Motorway}}

Associated British Ports, who operate Newport Docks, said that the 2014 plans could jeopardise future investment in the area. Matthew Kennerley of ABP said: "We don't think it's a great idea to put the new route through the centre of Wales' most important general cargo port. We believe there is an alternative route...slightly further north...[which] would still have an impact on the port but to a much lesser extent because it would not be bisecting very important quayside areas."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28359094|title=£1bn M4 relief road 'risks Newport docks jobs and trade'|work=BBC News|date=17 July 2014}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.m4newport.com/ M4 Corridor around Newport (www.m4newport.com)]
• [http://www.m4newport.com/assets/preferred-route-context-plan.pdf Map of the preferred route for the M4 relief road around Newport]

{{UK motorways}}

{{Transport in Newport}}

{{City of Newport}}

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Category:Toll roads in the United Kingdom

Category:Proposed roads in the United Kingdom

Category:Proposed transport infrastructure in Wales

Category:M4 motorway

Category:Cancelled projects in Wales