M4 drivers get journey times help

Drivers will get an idea of how long it will take to reach next junction

One of the busiest Welsh stretches of the M4 is to have electronic signs telling motorists how long it will take to travel to the next junction.

The signs between junction 29 -32, from Tredegar Park to Coryton, will indicate to drivers how long their journey will take over the next few miles.

The stretch, which is two lanes on both sides, is often congested.

If the trial works, the signs could be put onto other stretches of the motorway.

Simon Jones of Traffic Wales said: "This pilot project is a new idea for motorists travelling between Tredegar Park, Newport and Coryton, Cardiff, as it will allow the traveller to gauge how long the travel times take to get from junction to junction.

The signing is automatic and the journey time will be from junction to junction Dave Hunter, Traffic Wales

"This project uses the very latest intelligent transport systems and IT to monitor the traffic flow, measure and sample vehicle speeds and then report the travel times back to the travelling public.

"Because the times that are displayed are based on completed journeys, there may be some slight variance between the travel times displayed and time experiences we record on the road.

"This may be down to motorists 'driving styles' or improving or worsening driving conditions, however the Welsh Assembly Government will make every effort to ensure accuracy of time travel estimates - but as this is a new trial we cannot give any guarantees the times displayed will be exact at the moment."

The bi-lingual messages showing the journey times has started in the week leading to Christmas and one of the busiest times of the year.

Dave Hunter, an engineer working on the journey time display project, explained: "The signing is automatic and the journey time will be from junction to junction, so drivers need to be aware a delay on slip roads getting on or off the motorway is not included.

"Traffic Wales is modifying the network to use the latest technology for all of its control systems - using it in this way means this is one of the first type of these projects to be pioneered across Wales and the UK."

If the scheme is successful, other bottleneck parts of the M4 in Wales could be added including the stretch around Port Talbot and the Bryn Glas tunnels in Newport.