For over three decades, the idea of building a new motorway south of Newport to ease congestion on the M4 has been a recurring political issue. First proposed in 1991, the relief road was ultimately scrapped by former First Minister Mark Drakeford in 2019 due to cost and environmental concerns. Now, with the Senedd election approaching, the topic has resurfaced.
Reform UK and the Welsh Conservatives have pledged to revive the project, while Plaid Cymru favors developing a new, updated plan. In contrast, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Wales Green Party, and Welsh Labour remain opposed, citing environmental impact and doubts about its effectiveness.
Liz Thorne, a 67-year-old frequent M4 user, supports the relief road, describing daily delays at the Brynglas Tunnels. "It hits 50mph and everything grinds to a halt," she said, noting it can take half an hour to travel between junctions. However, Andrew Lightbown, a priest, dismissed the proposal as a "cheap electoral promise," arguing that traffic flow in the area is "logistically almost impossible" to fix.
Reform leader Nigel Farage has suggested private funding and tolls, while the Conservatives oppose tolls and would split costs with the UK government. Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth promised to "put a plan together, starting to build the case," but did not commit to a specific route. Drakeford warned that current costs would be "entirely prohibitive."
The debate continues as congestion persists, with an average of 81,578 vehicles traveling eastbound daily through the Brynglas Tunnels in 2024.