NECESSITY OF M4 RELIEF ROAD DEMONSTRATED ONCE AGAIN  

16.2.2011 

William Graham – Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales East and Shadow Minister for regeneration – responding to the closure of the M4 Motorway following a vehicle fire in the Brynglas Tunnels: 

“I am pleased that no one was injured in this incident, unlike to two occasions during 2007; when the motorway was required to be closed following fatal accidents”. 

“Again we have a clear demonstration not only of the urgent need for the M4 Relief Road, but also of the inadequacies of the Southern Distributor Road to manage the additional volume of traffic  whenever the M4 is closed” 

“It is impossible to imagine the consequences of an accident that structurally damages these tunnels resulting in their closure for more than a day”. 

"The true economic and social impacts of the closing the M4 are inestimable”.  

"The M4 is the major transport artery into South Wales; we depend upon an efficient traffic flow to realise the maximum economic development which is necessary to regenerate our communities and industries.  

“We require a coherent strategy to address the daily congestion around the Brynglas Tunnels; however with every incident like today highlights the necessity for the M4 Relief Road.