M4 Magor to Castleton Transport Corridor Improvement Programme

What's this all about?

Problems with congestion and unreliable journey times have also been a fact of life on the M4 around Newport for many years.

The problems obvious to local and longer-range (including freight and international) users of this section of the M4 are journey time unreliability due to increased congestion and an inability to cope with sudden changes in demand or operation. These issues are worse at times of peak travel and, as the number of users on the network increase, are set to worsen.

A detailed study of the problems of the transport system in South East Wales measured these and other significant failings. To address these issues, the idea of a relief motorway was explored but, in July 2009, we announced that this option was no longer an affordable choice.

However, we recognise that important improvements could be made to the existing transport network. The M4 Magor to Castleton, Corridor Enhancement Measures Programme (M4 CEM) was set up to explore ways of making such improvements.

What practical steps have been taken already to address the need for improvements?

Since 2008, in order to make the M4 safer for users, sections of steel central barriers have been replaced with concrete central barriers. To ease congestion improvements have also been made to the roundabout at Junction 24 at Coldra, In addition, we have purchased the road through Llanwern steel works in order to create a link between Junction 23a and the Southern Distributor Road, this is known as the Steelworks Access Road.

To improve traffic flow and safety on the M4 between Coldra and Tredegar Park a Variable Speed Limit System is in place and traffic officers have been deployed to help reinforce the measures.

Phase One of the Steelworks Access Road, from the Southern Distributor Road (SDR) to the steelworks entrance, is complete.  Phase Two, through the steelworks is now under construction and together with safety improvements up to M4 Junction 23A and the signalisation of the B4245 junctions are programmed to be complete in Spring 2013.

The Aims of the M4 CEM programme

While these practical steps are underway, the M4 CEM programme is looking at how to improve the ability of the corridor to cope with current journey levels in an efficient way and enable more journeys to be made than are now. There are 3 overall aims:

• Social - to make it easier for people to reach services such as shops, hospitals, leisure service and places of work, by road, public transport, walking or cycling
• Economic - to support and encourage prosperity in the region and across Wales by delivering a more efficient transport network on this important economic gateway to South Wales
• Environmental - to prevent and reduce negative effects of the M4 CEM programme on people and the environment and, where practicable, provide improvements to balance against them.

Who are we talking to about all this?

The first stage of the engagement process was centred on two-way dialogue with stakeholders and the public at drop-in exhibitions and workshops held in early 2011. These provided an opportunity to review the problems, goals and aims for the M4 CEM programme. This helped clarify what the transport related issues are for people, and that there is a need to do something about them.

The second stage of the engagement process explored a long list of possible solutions to the identified problems associated with travel on the M4 Corridor between Magor and Castleton. The Welsh Government formed a Stakeholder Forum group, comprising a wide range of people and organisations with an interest in travel on the M4, or who may be affected by the M4 CEM programme. 

They appraised over 100 possible interventions, or 'measures', and considered new ideas. The long list was then subject to a sifting process to develop 'Packages' of compatible measures that could meet the defined goals of the Programme. These Packages were appraised and presented to the Stakeholder Forum for their comments. Following feedback from the Stakeholder Forum, further study has been undertaken to develop and refine an approach to present to the public and stakeholders at Consultation. This refined approach presents a number of measures that contribute towards a combination of compatible options, representing public transport, highway and other travel solutions.

The third stage of the engagement process is centred on the M4 CEM Consultation Document and Response Form which provides the opportunity for people to help shape a strategy to reduce traffic congestion on the M4 between, Magor and Castleton.

We are currently in the third stage of the engagement process and consulting with the general public and organisations.  The Public Consultation was launched on March 6th 2012 and runs until July 6th 2012.

A number of workshops and drop-in public exhibitions have already been held, and three additional drop-in exhibitions are arranged at:

• Friday 11 May at Brynglas House (midday -7pm)
• Tuesday 15 May at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Magor (midday-7pm)
• Thursday 17 May at the Newport Centre (midday-7pm)

After the Consultation ends all of the responses received will be carefully considered and only then will the Minister decide which measures should be developed in the future as  the best strategy to adopt to resolve the problems of capacity, safety and resilience on the M4 Corridor between Magor and Castleton The intention is for the Minister to make his announcement towards the end of 2012.

Your views will help Welsh Government determine a robust strategy to ease the flow on the M4 between Magor and Castleton - and make the transport system work better into the future.

You can find a copy of the consultation document and consultation response form on the Welsh Government consultation website, or www.m4cemconsultation.com.

How can I stay informed?

As well as seeing the news in brief here, please visit our new M4CEM website for more information. From this purpose built web site you will be able to download reports describing the results of earlier phases of engagement, and hear the latest news.