UNCERTAINTY over when one of Newport’s Brynglas Tunnels will reopen looms as the Welsh Government says it is still unsure of the extent of the damage caused by Tuesday’s fire.

Motorists can expect long delays on the M4 around Newport as the westbound tunnel remains closed for at least the next few days, while engineers continue to assess its structural safety.

Until then it is not known what work needs to be done to bring the tunnel back into use, but an Assembl y spokesman said it would have to foot the bill for the repairs.

In the meantime, a contraflow system will remain in place in the eastbound tunnel allowing traffic to pass through in both directions.

Staff worked through the night on Tuesday to clear the debris left after a lorry carrying steel caught fire causing extensive damage to the asphalt, walls, lining and electrics.

South Wales Fire & rescue service is still investigating the cause of the blaze, which tore through the tunnel, closing parts of the M4 for most of the day.

Traffic chaos followed with many people queuing for several hours after being diverted off the motorway.

This prompted politicians including South Wales East Assembly Member William Graham to call on the Assembly Government to look again at a M4 relief road.

In response, a spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government said it was more aware than most of the strategic and economic importance of the M4 to South Wales.

In 2009 the WAG announced plans to address issues around capacity, safety and resilience along the M4 as an alternative to the relief road scheme, he said, which included improvements to motorway junctions, train stations and park and ride facilities throughout the region.

He added plans to upgrade Queensway Road, which passes through the Llanwern steelworks, to a dual carriageway, as announced last year, would provide an alternative route through Newport and improve the resilience of the network.

  • For traffic advice and infomation relating to the tunnel and the ongoing work will be updated via traffic-wales.com