Western Mail

Arguments in favour of the ‘Blue Route’

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IN RESPONSE to Professor Stuart Cole’s article “Wales in Motion”, WM, December 5), it is anticipate­d that the traffic on UK roads will increase over the next 12 years (ie. to about 2030); thereafter, the volume of traffic will gradually decrease.

By about 2040, the volume of traffic will probably have reduced to its 2010 level (as the result of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles; and changes in ways of commuting).

By about 2050 there are likely to be radical changes air transport. It is likely that short take-off aircraft – powered by battery and/or hydrogen – will, gradually, take over a significan­t proportion of road and rail transport.

The ‘Black Route’(the proposed M4 relief road around the south of Newport), with an estimated cost of about £2bn – by 2025). If this option was started, say, in 2021 and completed in 2025.The current southern distributo­r road (SDR) around southern Newport would still be in operation. The completed ‘Black route’ would take a relatively small proportion of the traffic from both the existing M4 and the existing SDR. However, it is likely that by about 2040 traffic volume on major roads and motorways will have reduced to about the 2010 level. Thus making the Black route option less relevant in the long-term.

The ‘Blue Route’(modificati­on to the existing SDR) estimated cost between £0.5bn and £1bn. This could start in 2019 and be completed by 2022.

One strategy for the ‘Blue route’ would be to ‘prioritize’ it for slower moving traffic. This strategy could help prevent major accidents on the M4. This strategy would also make it easier for the predominan­t autonomous electric and hydrogenpo­wered vehicles. The £1bn-£1.5bn saved by this option could then be spent on other, urgent, road schemes across Wales.

The Black route option would be, in my opinion, a short-term, political/commercial advantage; whereas the Blue route is of longterm economical benefit to the Wales economy and the Gwent Levels environmen­t. Brian Hayes Bassaleg, Newport unless private health companies from the USA are allowed access to the NHS then to forget any form of trade agreement. Is this the type of “negotiatio­n” that Leavers envisaged and truly want?

Could I also correct Mr Christley in his statement “if our United Kingdom lasts another thousand years” in that the Act of Union which establishe­d the United Kingdom was passed in 1707 which equates to 311 years and not a thousand. Perhaps Leavers should really check their facts every once in a while.

AW Jones Llandrindo­d Wells

 ??  ?? > The Tree at Night. Picture taken by Nathan Nicol
> The Tree at Night. Picture taken by Nathan Nicol

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