MOTORING organisations and drivers are calling for the M4 in Newport to be widened to ease rush-hour traffic problems.

A national traffic survey has identified the Newport section of the motorway as a problem area.

Trafficmaster's Journey Time Index states that the motorway around the city regularly sees slow traffic during the evening drive time, - something it claims is a relatively new phenomenon.

But AA spokesman Alison Birkett said the problem is nothing new. She said: "I wouldn't say it's a recent phenomenon at all - there have been problems on this stretch of road for a number of years now. The real problem zones are the Brynglas Tunnels and where the motorway goes down into two lanes before Newport. These areas are the hinge points for traffic congestion along most of the M4 in South Wales.

"When we monitor it we can see there is a big problem. Something definitely needs to be done to widen the road to three lanes. Two just isn't enough to carry the traffic from two cities."

Commuters who use the M4 on their way to work regularly have to endure tailbacks. Bob Goodman works as an Estates Officer at Newport's Patent Office, which is just off the M4 on junction 28.

Mr Goodman, who lives in Cardiff, said: "Usually it's pretty hairy trying to get home in the evenings. The volume of traffic is heavy anywhere from 3pm to 6pm. If there's been an accident anywhere on the motorway it has a knock-on effect for the whole area."

South Wales East Conservative AM William Graham said he agrees with motorists. "It's worrying because there are minor accidents every day on the M4," he said.

"I've constantly brought up the issue of creating an M4 relief road, but nothing has been done on the matter so far. Something does need to be done soon, because congestion on the motorway is getting worse."

A National Assembly sokesman said: "We are looking at a number of options, including a road widening scheme on the M4 and a relief road."

But the M4 relief road plan was shelved for the next three years by Wales Transport minister Sue Essex earlier this year.

The Trafficmaster Journey Time Index examines the impact of traffic congestion on a number of key commuter routes throughout Britain over the last four years.