Severn Tunnel Junction: Should A Direct Link be Made with The M4?

[Envoy]

The Severn Bridge Tolls are going to be abolished in 2018. Surely, from where the toll booths are now on the M4, for relatively little cost, a direct link could be made to a new Park & Ride at Severn Tunnel Junction? (A road overpass of the M4 already exists). To reach Seven Tunnel Junction by car is currently rather awkward and involves driving through the community - over road humps etc. So, a direct access form the M4 would remove traffic from the community and at the same time induce more people to travel by rail. It might also be worth the occasional London bound train stopping at this location.Here is a view of the area:>
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.584287,-2.7837875,1019m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1

 

[TheEdge]

Unlike most hairbrain schemes that pop up here this is actually not a stupid idea. A nicely redeveloped station could act like a Newport Parkway and, if services to London did stop provide a nicely located station for people travelling from Chepstow and the surrounding areas a direct service.

 

[scrapy]

I would say it would make more sense for a direct link from the m4/m32 junction to Bristol Parkway. The abolition of tolls and frequency of trains from Bristol Parkway makes it more viable to those who live in Wales east of Newport.

If travelling West of Severn Tunnel junction people travelling from England will also probably find Bristol Parkway more convenient and people from Wales won't drive East to then go West.

 

[Envoy]

I would say it would make more sense for a direct link from the m4/m32 junction to Bristol Parkway. The abolition of tolls and frequency of trains from Bristol Parkway makes it more viable to those who live in Wales east of Newport.

If travelling West of Severn Tunnel junction people travelling from England will also probably find Bristol Parkway more convenient and people from Wales won't drive East to then go West.

The section of M4 between the Almondsbury Interchange (M4/M5) to J19 for the M32 - Bristol Parkway, is very busy and frequently jams up. Severn Tunnel Junction is useful for much of SE Monmouthshire - which although predominantly rural, would add up to a sizeable catchment stretching as far north as Monmouth and including other places not on the rail network such as Usk and Raglan. I am sure that the people of these places would welcome an easy link to a P&R at STJ rather than have the hassle of getting into Newport where no free/cheap parking would be available near the station. Bus services could also run from/to STJ to the aforementioned places using the M4 and A449/A40.This would provide a quicker railhead link than trying to get to Bristol Parkway or Newport.

 

[The Planner]

It would be probably cheaper to build a road from Jn23A back to the station than the cost and disruption of building a new junction on the M4.

 

[Envoy]

It would be probably cheaper to build a road from Jn23A back to the station than the cost and disruption of building a new junction on the M4.

You don’t need a complete new junction by the tolls booths as an over bridge already exists. Looks to me like only proper slip roads are needed. With big signs up saying ‘Severn Tunnel Junction Park & Ride’ and an easy access without driving miles down back roads, it would surely be a winner? Might also reduce traffic on the congested Newport section of the M4 as well as that going into Bristol?