Oral - Impact On The Transport Infrastructure Of The Closure Of The M4

Presiding Officer, I wish to bring Assembly Members’ attention to the two recent tragic, fatal incidents that have occurred on the M4 at Newport, the first on Thursday, 2 August, and the second last Monday, 17 September. I am sure that we all, as as Assembly, send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved in both cases.

Though both accidents occurred in the early hours of those mornings, the causes were entirely different.  On 2 August a westbound driver was tragically killed when he lost control of jis lorry approaching junction 27, High Cross, demolishing 60m of central reserve safety fence. On Monday, five people died and one person was seriously injured following a collision between two cars on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 25, Caerleon, and 24, Coldra. There were no highway issues apparent in either case. Although the causes of the two accidents were different, the affect on travellers was, unfortunately, similar.

It is important to note that the M4 carries over 100,000 vehicles a day in the Newport area and its closure due to a serious incident will inevitably have major implications on the transport infrastructure of south-east Wales, especially on the main trunk roads and on local roads onto which traffic diverts. When such incidents occur, traffic is managed for the Welsh Assembly Government via Traffic Wales, based at the Coryton traffic management centre. Traffic Wales works with the police to advise motorists via radio, using Traffic Link, which is based at the traffic management centre, via its website and via extensive trunk-road-based electronic message signs, to divert away from affected roads. Messages not to travel in the affected areas are also given out on the radio if it is thought appropriate, and, once again, on the advice of police at the scene.

Traffic Wales also works with those local authorities affected by the diversion routes to co-ordinate traffic information and with the Highways Agency in England. Inevitably, however, the impact is severe, since the alternative routes are not capable of carrying the same volume of traffic as the motorway. The length of time that the M4 remained closed on each occasion was due to the precise procedures that must be adhered to when such incidents occur, and are largely dictated by the police, who manage the scene of the incident.  

There are three operations that need to be completed before the motorway can be cleared and subsequently reopened. The first prime task is to attend to, and recover, those persons involved in the incident and who have either been injured or have sadly died at the scene. The second task is the police investigation to establish the cause of death. The police investigation is similar to that at a crime scene, and they take control of the road and the management of the scene in accordance with the police road death investigation manual. The Welsh Assembly Government’s South Wales Trunk Road Agency support the police on occasions such as these where the incidents have occurred on the trunk-road network. At the third stage, when given the go ahead to do so by the police, the trunk-road agency initiates the removal of debris and making good temporary repairs to highway structures that may have been damaged. It is only after all these activities have been completed, and the carriageway has been restored, that the police allow the road to reopen safely to vehicles. Traffic Wales and the South Wales Trunk Road Agency have emergency plans in place on how to respond to such road traffic incidents. These were implemented in responding to both these incidents on the M4, in support of the overarching police operation.

I know that there is much concern about the effect on businesses in Wales when these incidents occur, causing gridlock on the south Wales corridor, during the time that the necessary thorough procedures are undertaken, as I have already described.

The Welsh Assembly Government is taking forward proposals for a new M4 that is proposed to run to the south of Newport from Magor to Castleton; this will become the main route for strategic traffic. It will avoid one of the oldest and most heavily trafficked parts of the motorway network in Wales and will provide route alternatives during closures of the network in that area.

Outline schedules allow for a possible anticipated opening of the new M4 in 2013, although - it is important to stress - this is subject to the successful completion of statutory processes, procurement routes and the outcome of any public inquiry that may be forthcoming.

Ultimately, such tragic events have been handled in a most professional manner by those who have to attend and deal with the immediate aftermath. It is a difficult and demanding time, not only for the families of victims but also for the emergency services and trunk-road agency staff who are called upon.

I also know that the Welsh Assembly Government, Traffic Wales and the police always learn lessons from these events. Debrief meetings are instigated as a matter of course in order to try to improve the way that we jointly handle them. I thank all of the emergency services and officials in Traffic Wales for the way in which they responded to these tragic and distressing events.

Officials are meeting today with the police to conduct a full debrief and, where lessons are to be learnt, to put procedures in place to improve co-ordination and procedures. I will be meeting the relevant parties next week to satisfy myself as to the lessons that can be learnt.