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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| M4 works finish after fatal crash | M4 works finish after fatal crash |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Emergency repairs to the central reservation of the M4 near Newport have been completed following a fatal lorry crash last Thursday. | Emergency repairs to the central reservation of the M4 near Newport have been completed following a fatal lorry crash last Thursday. |
| Thousands of motorists experienced long delays after the motorway was shut in both directions between J28 (Tredegar Park) and J24 (Coldra) after the crash. | Thousands of motorists experienced long delays after the motorway was shut in both directions between J28 (Tredegar Park) and J24 (Coldra) after the crash. |
| At its worst, there were 10-mile tailbacks in the morning rush hour. | At its worst, there were 10-mile tailbacks in the morning rush hour. |
| Congestion has continued on the road since the incident, with lane closures ensuring repairs could continue. | Congestion has continued on the road since the incident, with lane closures ensuring repairs could continue. |
| Work on the central reservation went on through Monday night so that the M4 could be fully open in time for Tuesday's morning rush hour. | Work on the central reservation went on through Monday night so that the M4 could be fully open in time for Tuesday's morning rush hour. |
| As the hours progressed, the sense of disbelief at what you are experiencing starts to take over Motorist Ieuan Thomas | As the hours progressed, the sense of disbelief at what you are experiencing starts to take over Motorist Ieuan Thomas |
| Last Thursday, lorry driver Colin James Hart, 55, from Hampshire, died when his truck overturned after crashing into the motorway's central reservation between High Cross and Malpas. | Last Thursday, lorry driver Colin James Hart, 55, from Hampshire, died when his truck overturned after crashing into the motorway's central reservation between High Cross and Malpas. |
| About 60m (200ft) of the central reservation was destroyed in the crash and the vehicle partially disintegrated during recovery attempts, which led to further delays. | About 60m (200ft) of the central reservation was destroyed in the crash and the vehicle partially disintegrated during recovery attempts, which led to further delays. |
| Fruit which the lorry had been carrying also had to be cleared from the motorway. | Fruit which the lorry had been carrying also had to be cleared from the motorway. |
| Jams of 10 miles eastbound and five miles westbound built up during the morning rush hour and other roads were affected for the rest of the day. | Jams of 10 miles eastbound and five miles westbound built up during the morning rush hour and other roads were affected for the rest of the day. |
| Motorist Iwan Thomas was travelling from Cardiff to Caernarfon for work when he was caught up in the traffic, and it took him about 10 hours to clear Newport. | |
| "As the hours progressed, the sense of disbelief at what you are experiencing starts to take over and it is this panic," he said. | "As the hours progressed, the sense of disbelief at what you are experiencing starts to take over and it is this panic," he said. |
| The delays caused traffic problems across the region | The delays caused traffic problems across the region |
| "For some people, it could have been a very traumatic experience." | "For some people, it could have been a very traumatic experience." |
| Gwent Police Inspector Lee Ford said the force had worked as quickly as possible to ensure the road was clear and safe. | Gwent Police Inspector Lee Ford said the force had worked as quickly as possible to ensure the road was clear and safe. |
| "There were a number of factors that made it difficult to deal with," he said. | "There were a number of factors that made it difficult to deal with," he said. |
| "The fact the vehicle was so large, the position in which it came to rest and the fact it occurred on such a busy stretch of motorway and it was a weekday made this into a particularly acute problem." | "The fact the vehicle was so large, the position in which it came to rest and the fact it occurred on such a busy stretch of motorway and it was a weekday made this into a particularly acute problem." |
| However, there has been criticism of the police and the length of time it took to reopen the motorway. | However, there has been criticism of the police and the length of time it took to reopen the motorway. |
| Conservative AM Brynle Williams said he would raise the matter with the assembly government, while Newport and Gwent Chamber of Commerce said the closure cost the local economy millions of pounds. | Conservative AM Brynle Williams said he would raise the matter with the assembly government, while Newport and Gwent Chamber of Commerce said the closure cost the local economy millions of pounds. |
| Jon Hughes, of the chamber, said some larger businesses in the city had enacted emergency response plans because their staff could not get to work. | Jon Hughes, of the chamber, said some larger businesses in the city had enacted emergency response plans because their staff could not get to work. |
| "In terms of the smaller businesses, a lot of them effectively had to close that day because staff couldn't get through, deliveries couldn't get through - it was a nightmare," he said. | "In terms of the smaller businesses, a lot of them effectively had to close that day because staff couldn't get through, deliveries couldn't get through - it was a nightmare," he said. |