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Long delays after fatal M4 crash Long delays after fatal M4 crash
(about 1 hour later)
Motorists on the outskirts of Newport are still facing long queues after a fatal lorry crash on the M4 motorway. Thousands of motorists faced long delays for most of Thursday after a fatal lorry crash on the M4 on the outskirts of Newport.
A lorry driver died when his vehicle overturned after a collision with the central reservation between Malpas and High Cross at 0215 BST. The driver died when his truck overturned after crashing into the motorway's central reservation between Malpas and High Cross at 0215 BST.
The M4 was shut in both directions between J28 (Tredegar Park) and J24 (Coldra) until lunchtime on Thursday. The M4 was shut in both directions between J28 (Tredegar Park) and J24 (Coldra) until lunchtime.
Delays continued into the evening rush hour with five mile tailbacks on the A449 southbound and A48 congestion. Delays affected other roads and continued into the evening rush hour.
Drivers heading south on the A449 are being diverted off the dual carriageway at Usk. At its worst, there were 10-mile tailbacks in the morning rush-hour.
There is also queuing traffic on the motorway slip roads in both directions. There was a knock-on effect for other roads, with five mile tailbacks on the A449 southbound and congestion on the A48 during the evening peak.
Slow traffic and long delays are also being reported on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road and the A467 in Rogerstone as motorists seek other routes to avoid the problems on the motorway. However, problems had cleared by 1900 BST.
One lane remained closed and there was a speed restriction of 40mph between junction 27 (High Cross) and 28 (Tredegar Park).
Earlier, drivers heading south on the A449 were being diverted off the dual carriageway at Usk.
There was also queuing traffic on the motorway slip roads in both directions.
Slow traffic and long delays were also reported on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road and the A467 in Rogerstone as motorists looked for other routes to avoid the problems on the motorway.
Speed restrictionSpeed restriction
The M4 itself on the stretch skirting Newport is reported to be busy in he evening rush hours with delays for drivers both way. The lorrye overturned and collided with the central barrier at 0217 BST on Thursday.
One lane has been completely closed east and westbound between J27 (High Cross) and J28 (Tredegar Park) for repairs to the damaged central barriers of the M4. A 40mph speed restriction is in place here. Around 60m of the central reservation was destroyed in the crash and that section of the motorway is not expected to be fully reopened until next Tuesday.
In the accident the articulated vehicle overturned and collided with the central barrier at 0217 BST on Thursday.
Around 60m of the central reservation was destroyed in the crash and that section of the motorway is not expected to be fully reopened till Tuesday.
During recovery attempts, the vehicle partially disintegrated, which led to further delay. Fruit which the truck had been transporting also had to be cleared from the road.During recovery attempts, the vehicle partially disintegrated, which led to further delay. Fruit which the truck had been transporting also had to be cleared from the road.
The 55-year-old lorry driver from Hampshire, was trapped in the cab and subsequently died. An investigation is under wayThe 55-year-old lorry driver from Hampshire, was trapped in the cab and subsequently died. An investigation is under way
Earlier traffic jams of 10 miles eastbound and five miles westbound built up during the morning rush hour. Traffic jams of 10 miles eastbound and five miles westbound built up during the morning rush hour.
Thousands of motorists were affected by the delaysThousands of motorists were affected by the delays
The M4 was shut in both directions between Tredegar Park at J28 and Coldra at J24 until lunchtime. A minor collision at junction 25 eastbound also added to traffic delays encountered by commuters.
Traffic was diverted onto the A48 Southern Distributor Road, and knock-on delays occurred across the region.
A minor collision also occurred at junction 25 eastbound which added to traffic delays encountered by commuters.
Inspector Lee Ford from Gwent Police Roads Policing Unit said: "The closure of the road was necessary as we needed to preserve the scene in order for a thorough investigation to take place.Inspector Lee Ford from Gwent Police Roads Policing Unit said: "The closure of the road was necessary as we needed to preserve the scene in order for a thorough investigation to take place.
"It was of paramount importance that the road was made safe for motorists to use. "It was of paramount importance that the road was made safe for motorists to use."
'Very frustrating''Very frustrating'
The road closures and traffic delays have caused problems for thousands of motorists in south Wales.
Roger Harris, an area manager for the travel company Portman, told how it had taken him nearly three and a half hours to travel 20 miles of a 160-mile journey.Roger Harris, an area manager for the travel company Portman, told how it had taken him nearly three and a half hours to travel 20 miles of a 160-mile journey.
"I set off at quarter to seven this morning from my home in Penarth," he said."I set off at quarter to seven this morning from my home in Penarth," he said.
"I'm trying to get to Fareham for a meeting. I was supposed to be there at half past nine and I'd given myself plenty of time."I'm trying to get to Fareham for a meeting. I was supposed to be there at half past nine and I'd given myself plenty of time.
Another motorist Iwan Thomas from Cardiff who is travelling to Caernarfon with a colleague said he had gone just three miles along the A48 in four hours on Thursday afternoon.Another motorist Iwan Thomas from Cardiff who is travelling to Caernarfon with a colleague said he had gone just three miles along the A48 in four hours on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Thomas said:"(We've had nothing to eat, nothing to drink all day. We're going stir crazy."Mr Thomas said:"(We've had nothing to eat, nothing to drink all day. We're going stir crazy."