Newport drivers face uncertainty over M4 junctions
The Welsh Government has refused to rule out closing junctions on the M4 in Newport[1], raising concerns about potential impacts on surrounding areas and the wider economy. Natasha Asghar, MS for Newport and Islwyn, challenged the Welsh Government in the Senedd this week, seeking a clear commitment that junction closures are off the table. Mark Hooper, Plaid Cymru’s recently appointed Deputy Minister for Transport, told the chamber that closing some junctions remains “on the table” as part of ongoing work to address congestion, including along the M4 corridor.
Ms Asghar said: “Closing motorway junctions is not going to improve things. “The M4 will remain gridlocked, and traffic will be pushed further into the heart of the city, causing more problems.” The longstanding dispute follows the cancellation of the M4 relief road in 2019, after more than GBP150 million had already been spent on preparatory work.
Since then, business groups, hauliers, and politicians have repeatedly called for solutions to the chronic congestion around Brynglas and Newport. The Welsh Conservatives, now in opposition to the Plaid-led government, have renewed calls for the relief road following the First Minister’s pledge to deliver a road-based solution earlier this year. No details have been released on which junctions might be closed, but any changes could affect access to industrial estates, retail areas, and commuter routes in and around Newport.
Ms Asghar accused ministers of ignoring the need for long-term upgrades and instead considering options that could increase delays. In the Senedd, she asked Mr Hooper to categorically rule out such closures. His refusal, despite promising to consult residents, has fuelled concerns that closures could become a formal proposal.
Beyond her warnings about junction closures and renewed calls for the relief road, Ms Asghar also suggested the Welsh Government consider using the Nazzano method for tunnel expansion. This technique, developed in Italy, allows tunnels to be widened under live traffic by constructing a larger structure around the existing tunnel, maintaining lanes during most of the work. Mr Hooper said the method was “of interest” and confirmed that officials are already exploring it as one of several options.
For residents and commuters in Newport, the idea of junction closures has raised fears of increased traffic on local roads, longer delays, and wider economic impacts. Business leaders have emphasised that the reliability of the M4 is essential for attracting investment and supporting logistics across south Wales. Ms Asghar’s intervention has set the stage for a debate between Plaid Cymru’s new transport team and opposition members about what a “road-based solution” should look like, and whether the M4 relief road could be revived.
With strategy work on the corridor only just beginning, drivers now face continued uncertainty about the future of Newport’s most important transport artery.