page_title: M4 relief road
hierarchical_section_title: M4 relief road
caption_attribution_description: English: M4 Motorway - Brynglas tunnels, western portals
context_page_description: The M4 relief road was a motorway, south of the city of Newport, South Wales, proposed to relieve traffic congestion on the M4 motorway.
  Originally proposed by the Welsh Office in 1991, but were not pursued by the Conservative Major Government. Following devolution in 1999 the project was again drawn up by Welsh Government economic and transport minister Andrew Davies in 2004 but this was withdrawn in 2009 when the cost estimates had risen by £660m, to a total of £1 billion.
  In April 2013, the Conservative-led coalition offered the Welsh Government a £830m interest-payable loan for the construction of the road. In July 2014 Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart stated that, despite political opposition, the scheme would go ahead.
  Demand for investment grew in 2017 following a manifesto pledge by Theresa May which removed the Severn road tolls. The increased road use led to vehicle use increasing of 20% over the M4 bridge and 7% of traffic at the tunnels, increasing the already considerable congestion in Newport.
  First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones stepped down in 2018, leaving the decision to his successor, Mark Drakeford.
context_section_description: The M4 relief road was a motorway, south of the city of Newport, South Wales, proposed to relieve traffic congestion on the M4 motorway.
  Originally proposed by the Welsh Office in 1991, but were not pursued by the Conservative Major Government. Following devolution in 1999 the project was again drawn up by Welsh Government economic and transport minister Andrew Davies in 2004 but this was withdrawn in 2009 when the cost estimates had risen by £660m, to a total of £1 billion.
  In April 2013, the Conservative-led coalition offered the Welsh Government a £830m interest-payable loan for the construction of the road. In July 2014 Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart stated that, despite political opposition, the scheme would go ahead.
  Demand for investment grew in 2017 following a manifesto pledge by Theresa May which removed the Severn road tolls. The increased road use led to vehicle use increasing of 20% over the M4 bridge and 7% of traffic at the tunnels, increasing the already considerable congestion in Newport.
  First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones (a supporter of the road) stepped down in 2018, leaving the decision to his successor, Mark Drakeford. Drakeford was required to delay his decision due to the 2019 Newport West by-election purdah.
  On 4 June 2019 Drakeford announced that the scheme would not proceed on the basis of escalating costs now at £1.4bn. 2018 estimates had however already shown that the £1.4bn figure would have been far higher once VAT costs and overspending was accounted for. Drakeford further attributed the decision to the global climate crisis and local "environmental impacts" to the Gwent Levels.
caption: The Brynglas Tunnels, near Newport, are affected by high peak time congestion
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