M4 junction closures and new Menai crossing in plans to tackle congestion on Welsh roads

The Welsh government has announced plans to tackle congestion in north and south Wales

Junctions on the M4 in Newport could close, and a new bridge built across the Menai Strait, as part of Welsh government plans for two notorious transport bottlenecks.

Ministers are considering whether to close or partially close three junctions, potentially by 2028. However, a review has warned that closing them could cause increased congestion and noise on alternative routes.

It is the latest set of proposals to tackle congestion on the M4, after plans for a relief road were developed in the 2010s and axed by former Labour first minister Mark Drakeford in 2019.

Proposed junction closures were criticised by the city's council leader, Dimitri Batrouni, while the Tories and Reform called for the Welsh government to get on with an M4 Relief Road.

The previous Labour-led Welsh government axed plans to build a relief road south of Newport in 2019

In south Wales, the Welsh government is to hold an 18-month study that will look at a range of options for what it says are "road-based solutions" to congestion on the motorway.

However, it is understood that the study could still include a new motorway south of Newport.

The Welsh government also plans a five-year programme of changes to deliver "shorter-term benefits", including "a delivery plan to improve how the motorway is operated and managed".

"The review found that measures such as these offer some of the quickest opportunities to improve traffic flow and resilience on the M4," he said.

However, firm decisions have not been made and ministers want to consider the impact on local roads, and speak to Newport council, before it goes ahead.

It said: "There is a risk that economic costs would be redistributed rather than reduced, with poorer access for local businesses and increased congestion, noise and delay on alternative routes."