M4 bank holiday getaway traffic live updates as In It Together festival revellers and crashes cause ‘severe’ motorway delays

There are 'severe' delays on the M4 near Newport after an accident. One lane was closed westbound between One lane was closed westbound between junction 26 Malpas and junction 27 High Cross. The vehicles involved were quickly moved to the hard shoulder, but traffic monitors are reporting severe delays in the area.

Congestion just after 4.15pm was back to the Prince of Wales Bridge. There are also delays around Swansea this afternoon after an earlier accident at junction 42 Swansea East with congestion back to junction 43 at Llandarcy. Roads in Wales are expected to be busy today at the start of the bank holiday weekend and May half term.

More than 20m leisure journeys are expected to be made by car this late May bank holiday as traffic returns close to 2019's pre-pandemic levels, according to a new study of drivers' getaway plans from the RAC and INRIX. Analysis suggests the worst day to travel will be Friday when more than 4m journeys are planned, as this is not only the start of the long weekend but also the beginning of half term for many UK schools. Figures from Traffic Wales have shown that last year over the Spring bank holiday weekend, traffic flows increased by approx.

10% compared to a month before. The busiest day was Friday when peak times journeys took approximately 10 to 20 minutes longer. Traffic volumes look set to remain consistently high throughout the long weekend as 3.7m trips are expected to take place on Saturday 25 May, while 3.4m journeys are anticipated on both Sunday and bank holiday Monday.

Thousands of people are also set to take over a Welsh farm this weekend as one of Wales' largest music events, In It Together Festival,[1] returns. There already a warning of heavy traffic around the Margam junction of the M4 as people make their way to the site. The Met Office forecast for Friday is a largely dry day.

The forecast for Wales says: "Spots of rain to start, mainly in the north and west, though largely dry elsewhere through the day. Some brighter spells by the afternoon, particularly in the south where it will feel warmer. Lighter winds than Thursday.

Maximum temperature 16 ?C."

References

1. ^ In It Together Festival, (www.walesonline.co.uk)