Road Link Work Will Begin in July

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th May 2002

Work on the £55m Newport Southern Distributor Road will begin in July.

The project is being spearheaded by a joint venture between French construction giant Vinci and Morgan Sindall under a new company, Morgan Vinci.

Leading Member of the National Assembly's Economic Development Committee, Michael German, whose constituency covers the whole of Newport, said, "This new road will improve Newport's transport links and make the city a more attractive place to invest. I would like to see it eventually joining up with the Magor Motorway exit."

The South Wales East AM continued, "There is a deep commitment in the Welsh Liberal Democrat/ Labour Partnership Government towards local communities. I am delighted that this infrastructure improvement is to go ahead. We will continue to do all that we can."

The contract, awarded by Newport County Borough Council, is the biggest local authority private finance initiative scheme in Wales to date and will help relieve traffic congestion on the M4.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Newport Cllr Hugh Clarke said, "At the moment the Chepstow Road is being used as a motorway overflow, hopefully this new road will ease the situation for Chepstow Rd and other roads in the east of Newport."