Brynglas Tunnels
Encyclopedia
The Brynglas Tunnels carry the M4 motorway
under Brynglas
Hill in Newport
. The 1200 feet (365.8 m) twin-bored tunnels were the first tunnels in the British motorway network and are still the only bored tunnels.
The tunnels and adjacent Usk bridge
were originally planned by Newport Corporation
in August 1959 in a plan submitted to the Ministry of Transport
. Work started on 10 September 1962 and both structures were complete and open to traffic during the first week in May 1967.
Almost as soon as the M4 Newport bypass (junctions 24-28) had opened, the traffic levels had grown to such a degree that the road had to be widened to three lanes in each direction. This was finished in 1982 but with the exception of the tunnels and Usk bridge which remained as dual two-lane sections (Junctions 25-26). During the original construction several houses on Brynglas Road (where the modern Newport Lodge Hotel now stands) had to be demolished due to structural weaknesses caused by the tunnelling. Therefore the technical challenges and risk associated with widening the existing tunnels in a highly built-up area were found to be too great.
The tunnels remain a bottleneck on the motorway, highlighted by incidents such as the fire in the west bound tunnel on the 26 July, 2011, when both tunnels were completely closed following a major lorry fire.
The articulated lorry, belonging to Hingley Transport, caught fire upon entering the west-bound tunnel entrance, due to the nature of the damage to the lorry it was unable to exit the tunnel. Attempts by the driver to disconnect the cargo-section from the lorry cab failed, as the fire intensified tyres on the vehicle started to explode and the lorry driver was driven to safety by motorist Ashley Hall whom had stopped further back towards the entrance of the tunnel to block and prevent vehicles behind from entering the smoke-filled tunnel.
There were no fatalities recorded, however the closure caused a considerable amount of traffic delay in both directions of travel. Partly due to regular tailbacks at the tunnels, a variable speed limit is in place between junctions 24 and 28.
A New M4 bypass south of Newport was proposed, but on 15 July 2009 the scheme was dropped by the National Assembly for Wales
. Hence the A48
Southern Distributor Road
, a two-lane dual carriageway
connecting M4 junction 24 to junction 28, remains the alternative route.
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
under Brynglas
Brynglas
Brynglas is an area of the city of Newport, South Wales, United Kingdom.- Location :Brynglas is situated above the M4 motorway in Newport and famous on traffic reports of congestion at the Brynglas Tunnels.- Amenities & history :...
Hill in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
. The 1200 feet (365.8 m) twin-bored tunnels were the first tunnels in the British motorway network and are still the only bored tunnels.
The tunnels and adjacent Usk bridge
M4 motorway Usk bridge
The M4 motorway Usk bridge carries the M4 motorway across the River Usk in the city of Newport in the United Kingdom.*The bridge is actually two separate bridges for the eastbound and westbound carriageways....
were originally planned by Newport Corporation
Newport City Council
Newport City Council is the governing body for the city of Newport, one of the subdivisions of Wales within the United Kingdom. It consists of 50 councillors, representing the city's 20 wards. Since the 2008 election, the council has been controlled jointly by the Conservatives and Liberal...
in August 1959 in a plan submitted to the Ministry of Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
. Work started on 10 September 1962 and both structures were complete and open to traffic during the first week in May 1967.
Almost as soon as the M4 Newport bypass (junctions 24-28) had opened, the traffic levels had grown to such a degree that the road had to be widened to three lanes in each direction. This was finished in 1982 but with the exception of the tunnels and Usk bridge which remained as dual two-lane sections (Junctions 25-26). During the original construction several houses on Brynglas Road (where the modern Newport Lodge Hotel now stands) had to be demolished due to structural weaknesses caused by the tunnelling. Therefore the technical challenges and risk associated with widening the existing tunnels in a highly built-up area were found to be too great.
The tunnels remain a bottleneck on the motorway, highlighted by incidents such as the fire in the west bound tunnel on the 26 July, 2011, when both tunnels were completely closed following a major lorry fire.
The articulated lorry, belonging to Hingley Transport, caught fire upon entering the west-bound tunnel entrance, due to the nature of the damage to the lorry it was unable to exit the tunnel. Attempts by the driver to disconnect the cargo-section from the lorry cab failed, as the fire intensified tyres on the vehicle started to explode and the lorry driver was driven to safety by motorist Ashley Hall whom had stopped further back towards the entrance of the tunnel to block and prevent vehicles behind from entering the smoke-filled tunnel.
There were no fatalities recorded, however the closure caused a considerable amount of traffic delay in both directions of travel. Partly due to regular tailbacks at the tunnels, a variable speed limit is in place between junctions 24 and 28.
A New M4 bypass south of Newport was proposed, but on 15 July 2009 the scheme was dropped by the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
. Hence the A48
A48 road
The A48 is a major trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen. Before the construction of the M4 motorway and the first Severn Bridge in the mid 1960s it was the principal route into South Wales. For most of its journey through Wales,...
Southern Distributor Road
Southern Distributor Road
The Southern Distributor Road is a principal distributor road in Newport that runs from the Coldra roundabout in the east of Newport to Tredegar Park M4 Junction 28) in the west of Newport and includes City Bridge, a bow-string arch bridge spanning the River Usk...
, a two-lane dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
connecting M4 junction 24 to junction 28, remains the alternative route.