City relief road hits milestone

Cars have been directed to travel along sections of the new road

A £55m road building scheme to relieve congestion around one of the busiest stretches of the M4 has reached a milestone as traffic flows along completed sections.

Known as the Southern Distributor Road, the project is designed to alleviate heavy traffic problems in and around Newport.

Construction work on the scheme - which is the biggest local authority private finance initiative in Wales - has been underway since 2002.

However over the last six weeks, good weather has helped workers make rapid progress on the road and traffic has now been directed onto parts of the new carriageway.

The switch from the old road to the new took place at about 2200 BST on Monday from the Balfe Road roundabout to Coldra.

Junctions affected are the Coed Rhedyn (Trikon factory access), Beatty Road, Cot Hill and Hartridge Farm Road. Traffic exiting from the Holiday inn will only be able to turn left towards Coldra.

Managers for the project said that they were satisfied with the progress.

Traffic is limited to 30 miles per hour while the work takes place, but it flowed smoothly Peter Frood, Morgan Vinci Ltd

Peter Frood, project manager for Morgan Vinci Ltd, one of the parties involved in the PFI said: "There were no problems at all with the switch.

"I travelled along it myself this morning and everything was fine.

"Traffic is limited to 30 miles per hour while the work takes place, but it flowed smoothly.

"Traffic from the old road has been moved to the new allowing us to reconstruct the old," he said.

Work is continuing along the 10 km stretch which will go from the busy Coldra roundabout at junction 24 of the M4 in the east to the Pont Ebbw roundabout in the west which links up with junction 28.

I have said you can't have any gain without any pain - this road will help investment and help the traffic congestion Cllr Graham Dally

As part of the project a 187 metre long bowstring arch bridge is being erected across the River Usk - believed to be the biggest bridge of its kind in the UK.

Over the last few years, heavy traffic problems have frustrated many commuters in Newport but councillor Graham Dally, the city council's cabinet member for transport and sustainable development is asking people remain patient while work in ongoing.

"I have said you can't have any gain without any pain, and this road will help attract inward investment to Newport and will help the traffic congestion," he said.

The bridge over the River Usk is a major part of the scheme

"Vehicles using parts of the SDR for the first time is a key stage in the progress of the road's construction.

"When complete it will have a real impact on transport in and around the city, providing an alternative and accessible route for heavy traffic and other vehicles.

"I am very happy with the progress of it all," he said.

The road is expected to be completed by Autumn 2004.