TRAFFIC chaos following a fatal road collision on the M48 last month has caused emergency planners to review their procedures.
After receiving a number of complaints from commuters who were trapped for hours on July 20 - the day of the accident - Monmouth MP Huw Edwards has been in contact with Minister of Roads David Jamieson, MP. Mr Edwards was told that "lessons had been learned" regarding the closure of the M48 at Junction 2 and the M4 at Junction 22 (where the M48 and M4 merge).
"The minister has informed me that a 'de-briefing' meeting took place on July 30 to consider what lessons could be learnt from the events on July 20," said Mr Edwards.
"The meeting concluded that the preferred option for future incidents between the M48 Junction 1 and M4 Junction 20 would be an initial closure of the M48 at Junction 2, which would then allow sufficient time for the necessary signs and cones to be put in place at Junction 1.
"A single lane across the bridge would then be re-opened and traffic would be allowed to exit at Junction 1.
"This would allow people joining the M48 in Chepstow to travel across the M48 Severn Bridge and not have to make a detour nor be caught up in congestion at Magor."
Mr Edwards added: "I can certainly understand the frustration of commuters on that day."
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