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New £1bn motorway to ease south Wales congestion New £1bn motorway to ease south Wales congestion
(about 1 hour later)
A £1bn relief road for the M4 around Newport has been confirmed by Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart.A £1bn relief road for the M4 around Newport has been confirmed by Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart.
The route - described as the UK's most important by Chancellor George Osborne - will run between Junctions 23 and 29 and include a new bridge.The route - described as the UK's most important by Chancellor George Osborne - will run between Junctions 23 and 29 and include a new bridge.
Supporters say it will improve transport around the gateway of south Wales, ease congestion and boost jobs.Supporters say it will improve transport around the gateway of south Wales, ease congestion and boost jobs.
But opponents say improving existing roads around Newport would be a cheaper and more effective option.But opponents say improving existing roads around Newport would be a cheaper and more effective option.
However, Mrs Hart told AMs on Wednesday that "none of the alternatives solutions proposed could reasonably deliver the objectives" of easing congestion. However, Mrs Hart told AMs on Wednesday that "none of the alternative solutions proposed could reasonably deliver the objectives" of easing congestion.
"Traffic congestion and unreliable journey times, particularly during rush hour, are common occurrences on the M4 around Newport," she added."Traffic congestion and unreliable journey times, particularly during rush hour, are common occurrences on the M4 around Newport," she added.
"Addressing these capacity and resilience issues is a significant challenge that we face in ensuring that Wales has an effective economic infrastructure which improves our competitiveness and access to jobs and services.""Addressing these capacity and resilience issues is a significant challenge that we face in ensuring that Wales has an effective economic infrastructure which improves our competitiveness and access to jobs and services."
The route would be the largest capital investment programme by the Welsh government since the start of devolution and could be finished by the spring of 2022.The route would be the largest capital investment programme by the Welsh government since the start of devolution and could be finished by the spring of 2022.
But some would say it has been a long time coming. Plans to ease congestion at the bottleneck gateway to south Wales were first unveiled in 2004.But some would say it has been a long time coming. Plans to ease congestion at the bottleneck gateway to south Wales were first unveiled in 2004.
Five years later the then Labour-Plaid coalition in Cardiff Bay shelved the idea when the estimated cost rose to £1bn.Five years later the then Labour-Plaid coalition in Cardiff Bay shelved the idea when the estimated cost rose to £1bn.
'Damaging motorway'
However, UK ministers have since agreed Welsh ministers could borrow the money needed to fund the scheme.However, UK ministers have since agreed Welsh ministers could borrow the money needed to fund the scheme.
Meanwhile, environmental and some business groups have criticised the preferred route as unnecessarily damaging and costly.Meanwhile, environmental and some business groups have criticised the preferred route as unnecessarily damaging and costly.
Friend of the Earth Cymru said the decision will see a six-lane motorway "plough through part of one of Wales' most protected and environmentally sensitive landscapes" at the Gwent Levels.Friend of the Earth Cymru said the decision will see a six-lane motorway "plough through part of one of Wales' most protected and environmentally sensitive landscapes" at the Gwent Levels.
Director Gareth Clubb said: "This vastly expensive, utterly unnecessary and terribly damaging motorway is the worst possible transport choice for south east Wales.Director Gareth Clubb said: "This vastly expensive, utterly unnecessary and terribly damaging motorway is the worst possible transport choice for south east Wales.
"And the £1bn price tag means that, at a time when traffic has actually decreased since 2007, it's going to come at the cost of the sustainable solutions that could benefit us all."And the £1bn price tag means that, at a time when traffic has actually decreased since 2007, it's going to come at the cost of the sustainable solutions that could benefit us all.
"This Welsh government seems stuck in a past age of concreting over our beautiful countryside and committing our economy to a fossil fuel future we won't be able to afford.""This Welsh government seems stuck in a past age of concreting over our beautiful countryside and committing our economy to a fossil fuel future we won't be able to afford."
Business leaders in Wales had mixed views on the announcement, with CBI Wales welcoming the decision but the small businesses organisation FSB Wales calling it a "billion pound mistake". 'Economic artery'
CBI Wales Director Emma Watkins said her organisation had consistently judged the black route as the most prudent and effective option. Transport group Sustrans Cymru said the move was a "wrong turn" when there was a need for more public transport.
The announcement on Wednesday brought a mixed reaction from the business sector with CBI Wales welcoming the decision while FSB Wales, which represents small businesses, calling it a "billion-pound mistake".
CBI Wales Director Emma Watkins said her organisation had consistently judged the preferred route, known as the black route, as the most prudent and effective option.
"The M4 around Newport is simply not fit for the 21st Century. That stretch of motorway is Wales' main economic artery, it is already congested and is predicted to get worse," she said."The M4 around Newport is simply not fit for the 21st Century. That stretch of motorway is Wales' main economic artery, it is already congested and is predicted to get worse," she said.
"I agree with the prime minister when he said it was a "foot on the windpipe of the Welsh economy". "I agree with the prime minister when he said it was a 'foot on the windpipe of the Welsh economy'."
FSB Wales spokesman Iestyn Davies said: "It is deeply disappointing that the minister has turned her back on the "blue route" proposed by Prof Stuart Cole - a scheme which could provide an effective solution to the current problems on the M4 a full decade earlier than the scheme she is progressing and for around £600m less." FSB Wales spokesman Iestyn Davies said: "It is deeply disappointing that the minister has turned her back on the blue route proposed by Prof Stuart Cole, a scheme which could provide an effective solution to the current problems on the M4 a full decade earlier than the scheme she is progressing and for around £600m less."
The Welsh government consulted on three routes for the M4 relief road, dubbed black, purple and red.
The first two suggested a three-lane motorway between junction 23 at Magor and junction 29 at Castleton, but via slightly different routes.
The third, red route, suggested a new dual carriageway.
During the consultation, the Institute of Welsh Affairs backed a new proposal by Prof Cole, dubbed the blue route, an upgrade of the southern distributor road which runs just to the south of Newport.