Ken Skates Starts Work On Junction 28 Improvements

Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates today cut the turf at Junction 28 of the M4 to mark the start of £13.7 million of improvement work at the site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 16 month project will bring the stretch up to modern standards, increasing the amount of traffic that can travel through J28 Tredegar Park, A467 Bassaleg, and the Southern Distributor Road Pont Ebbw roundabouts. Permanent traffic lights which are linked with all 3 roundabouts will be installed. These include intelligent signalling which reacts to varying traffic flows in real time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Off-peak lane closures will be utilised between 09:30 and 15:30 and during a few weekend / overnight works to facilitate construction when traffic flows are lighter. Advance notification of this will be provided. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted to mark the start of construction on this important project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The existing M4 junction 28 roundabout, together with the adjacent roundabouts at Bassaleg and Pont Ebbw are used by more than 6,000 vehicles an hour at peak times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Strategically, this junction is the principal link between the M4 and the major employment area of west Newport. It also provides a north-south link between the eastern South Wales Valleys and west Newport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I see the improvement of all three junctions as an important part of our programme for economic regeneration in the area, providing access to jobs, safe reliable journeys and improved resilience. I look forward to returning when the new junction opens next year to see local communities feel these benefits.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Debbie Wilcox, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Newport City Council is pleased to be working in partnership with Welsh Government in delivering much needed improvements to Junction 28. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As an important and strategic business hub, Junction 28 is home to some of Newport’s largest organisations. Maximising the volume of traffic that can pass through this part of the city each day will greatly improve the driving experience on our strategic road network. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The plans have been widely welcomed by commuters, businesses and the city council in our efforts to attract continued inward investment to the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​