Motorists faced severe delays on the M4 in south Wales on Friday due to multiple incidents, including a crash in Newport that blocked lanes in both directions near junction 24 at Coldra. Traffic monitoring services Inrix and the AA reported hour-long delays for commuters heading home from work.
Earlier on Friday morning, the M4 in Port Talbot experienced significant three-hour delays due to emergency repairs following a lorry crash on Thursday. Meanwhile, police were called to the A48 Briton Ferry Bridge over concerns for a woman's welfare, leading to a road closure in both directions until 3pm when the woman was safely removed.
By late afternoon, delays on the M4 in Newport had reduced to around 30 minutes, stretching from Tredegar Park to the Prince of Wales Bridge. One lane remained blocked eastbound at junction 24, with westbound queues extending back past Magor Services. Average speeds on the eastbound carriageway near Briton Ferry were as low as 10 mph, with delays of up to 53 minutes.
South Wales Police confirmed that the incident on the A48 bridge was brought to a safe conclusion at 3pm. A spokesperson said: 'Specialist negotiators attended the scene, and nearby roads were closed whilst officers spoke with her.' Traffic has since cleared, and delays are easing across the region.
