A NEW motorway bridge could potentially be high enough for ships to pass underneath and access the whole of Newport docks, First Minister Carwyn Jones said.

AMs pressed him on the planned M4 relief road to the south of Newport during First Minister’s Questions at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay earlier today.

Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales East Lindsay Whittle said a bridge “through the middle of Wale’s busiest commercial cargo dock” would stop cranes moving around the port and block more than half of ships from using the north dock, damaging trade.

Mr Jones replied: “There are ways to ensure a bridge is of a particular height to enable to docks to carry on working as normal and that of course will be examined.”

Running between Magor and Castleton, the new three-lane stretch of motorway will open in 2022 if current plans are realised.

Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies asked: “Can you give an absolute assurance that you will work with Associated British Ports to ensure their concerns are taken into consideration?”

Mr Jones replied: “Absolutely. There have already been meetings between officials and Associated British Ports. There is no reason why those meetings should not be able to continue, in order of course for any concerns to be addressed. “

Mr Davies said the port owners were not for or against any alternative route but felt strongly that all options should be explored before an irrevocable decision was taken.

Mr Whittle claimed the ‘blue route’, upgrading the existing Southern Distributor Road, would be a cheaper alternative that would not damage trade at the port.

But Newport East AM John Griffiths said: “The proposal to upgrade the SDR, which passes through substantial centres of population, would greatly increase air pollution, noise and generally adversely impact on quality of life for the communities along the way.”

Mr Jones replied: “That is an important point. We know the problem isn’t going to go away. We know that for substantial periods of time there are cars idling with their engines on on the motorway at the moment and that creates problems in itself.

“I’ve looked at the blue route myself and one of the issues is it is very close to people’s houses. It certainly wouldn’t be the case that somehow there would be a problem-free blue route available in terms of traffic as well of course as the problem of mixing local and long distance traffic.

“We do know we have to wrestle with what is fast becoming a very difficult traffic problem, with already a negative impact on air quality.”

He said the M4 relief road would “vastly improve motorway capacity” across South Wales, claiming this would benefit the port of Newport and also other docks operated by ABP like those in Swansea, Barry, Port Talbot and Cardiff.