Southern Distributor Road
Encyclopedia
The Southern Distributor Road (SDR) is a principal distributor road in Newport
that runs from the Coldra roundabout (M4
junction 24) 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
. Combined with the M4 in the north, the SDR forms the southern part of a ring road
for the city.
The new road encompassed Ringland Way, Spytty Road, East Dock Road, Usk Way and Docks Way. The eastern section (Ringland Way) and the western section (Docks Way) were originally built with reserved land to one side for eventual widening. The SDR plans were drawn up to make use of this land and to join the two sections together across the river to form a continuous dual carriageway from one side of the city to the other. On completion it assumed the number A48
replacing the Chepstow Road/Cardiff Road corridor which was downgraded to B4237.
The urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited
described the opening of the SDR as a critical piece of Newport's regeneration
jigsaw. The new road was designed to improve the environment
in the city centre
, taking traffic away from residential areas, and improving access to industrial
areas in the east and south of the city
.
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...
that runs from the Coldra roundabout (M4
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...
junction 24) in the east of Newport to Tredegar Park
Tredegar Park
Tredegar Park is a large municipal park located near the housing estates of Duffryn, Maesglas, and Gaer in the city of Newport in South Wales.- History :...
M4 Junction 28) in the west of Newport and includes City Bridge
City Bridge
City Bridge is a crossing of the River Usk in the city of Newport, South Wales. It was opened in 2004 as part of the construction/re-generation of the Southern Distributor Road/A48 in Newport....
, a bow-string arch bridge spanning the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
. Combined with the M4 in the north, the SDR forms the southern part of a ring road
Ring road
A ring road, orbital motorway, beltway, circumferential highway, or loop highway is a road that encircles a town or city...
for the city.
The new road encompassed Ringland Way, Spytty Road, East Dock Road, Usk Way and Docks Way. The eastern section (Ringland Way) and the western section (Docks Way) were originally built with reserved land to one side for eventual widening. The SDR plans were drawn up to make use of this land and to join the two sections together across the river to form a continuous dual carriageway from one side of the city to the other. On completion it assumed the number 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,...
replacing the Chepstow Road/Cardiff Road corridor which was downgraded to B4237.
The urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited
Newport Unlimited
Newport Unlimited is an Urban Regeneration Company created in 2003 to help counter the impacts of the continued decline in heavy industry and manufacturing in Newport: e.g...
described the opening of the SDR as a critical piece of Newport's regeneration
Urban Regeneration Company
Urban Regeneration Companies are private companies in the United Kingdom that seek to achieve a radical physical transformation of their areas through masterplanning and co-ordinating financial assistance to developers from both the public and private sector....
jigsaw. The new road was designed to improve the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
in the city centre
Newport city centre
Newport city centre is traditionally regarded as the area of Newport bounded by the west bank of the River Usk, the George Street Bridge, the eastern flank of Stow Hill and the Great Western Main Line. Most of the city centre is contained within two conservation areas: the central area and the area...
, taking traffic away from residential areas, and improving access to industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
areas in the east and south of the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
.
Facts and figures
- The road and associated structures were built as part of a Private Finance InitiativePrivate Finance InitiativeThe private finance initiative is a way of creating "public–private partnerships" by funding public infrastructure projects with private capital...
. - The route extends from M4 junction 24 Coldra roundabout in the east, to Ebbw Bridge roundabout in the west (as the A48). The A48 itself continues to M4 junction 28.
- The 8 mile (12.5 kilometre) road is a fully kerbed tarmacadam dual carriagewayDual carriagewayA dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
. - There are link roads, roundabouts, junctionJunction (traffic)A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
s, continuous footpathTrailA trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
, cycleways, fencingFencingFencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, noise barriers and street furniture. - The highlight of the route is the 650 ft (200 metre)-long steel, bow string arch City BridgeCity BridgeCity Bridge is a crossing of the River Usk in the city of Newport, South Wales. It was opened in 2004 as part of the construction/re-generation of the Southern Distributor Road/A48 in Newport....
over the River Usk. - The site of the new crossing is between the 40-year-old George Street Bridge, Britain's first cable-stayed bridgeCable-stayed bridgeA cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
and the Newport Transporter BridgeNewport Transporter BridgeThe Newport Transporter Bridge is a transporter bridge that crosses the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade I listed structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, it was built in 1906 and opened by Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar on 12 September 1906...
, which is over 100 years old. - There are nine roundabouts on the SDR and four subways.
- More than 200 staff worked on putting it together.
- 4,000 conesTraffic coneTraffic cones, also called traffic pylons, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, construction cones or witches' hats or safety wizards, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner...
; 127,000 tonnes of asphaltAsphaltAsphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
and macadamMacadamMacadam is a type of road construction pioneered by the Scotsman John Loudon McAdam in around 1820. The method simplified what had been considered state-of-the-art at that point...
; 4,000 tonnes of steelSteelSteel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
were used in the making of the SDR.