Storm bridge traffic chaos should not be repeated, says MP

An MP has called for an investigation into hold-ups on a major road after Storm Bram brought travel disruption to much of Wales on Tuesday.

Corroded lampposts at risk of falling in the high winds on the Prince of Wales Bridge on the M4 had to be removed, causing the bridge to be closed until Wednesday morning.

Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes said the closure caused long tailbacks on Tuesday including a 12-hour drive between Newport and Bristol for one driver.

National Highways said 35 lighting columns were removed on the bridge overnight, and it has now reopened in both directions.

Referring to the delays on the M4, Fookes said it was important to find a way forward "so we don't get this horrendous congestion that we saw".

"I am looking for a further meeting with Highways England and with the minister to make sure that this doesn't happen again," she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, adding that the bridge, as well as the nearby M48 Severn crossing, were crucial to the Welsh economy.

Given the increasing intensity and frequency of storms, she said: "We need to look at changing the way we look at our infrastructure."

A spokesperson for National Highways said the bridge closure had taken place because "safety is always our number one priority".

"Lamp columns are inspected every six years, and our last inspection two years ago did not raise any serious concerns. However, we have acted swiftly as soon as we noticed a fault." they said.

In an updated statement on Wednesday, it said it would conduct a "special detailed safety inspection of all remaining columns" over the next two weeks.

The spokesperson added lighting on the bridge would not be switched back on until both the inspections and a road safety review had been carried out "so that we do not have dark and light patches that can be difficult for drivers".

"We will replace the lighting columns as needed once this work has been completed," they added.

Meanwhile the aftermath of the storm left roads closed due to flooding in Gwynedd, Powys, Pembrokeshire and Monmouthshire.

On Wednesday morning, Natural Resources Wales had three flood warnings remaining in place and 18 flood alerts.

In Gwynedd, the A499 was shut from the Pwllheli to the A497 at Penrhos.

The A483 in Powys - from Beulah to Builth Wells - was also shut, as was the A487 in Pembrokeshire near the Brawdy business park.

In Monmouthshire, flooding caused the closure of the A4042 near Llanellen.

A Met Office yellow warning was in place for wind and rain across Wales on Tuesday.

National Grid reported more than 1,600 properties being without power in south and west Wales as of 17:30 GMT on Tuesday.

The Met Office warned of gusts up 60-70 mph (96.5-112.6 km/h), with wind gusts of 85mph (133.5 km/h) recorded in Capel Curig in Conwy county.

Storm Bram has been named by Met Eireann, which is Ireland's equivalent of the Met Office.