RPS Appointed to Major M4 Corridor Development in UK

RPS is appointed to provide environmental assessment and mitigation expertise in the development of the £750m Welsh Government M4 Corridor around Newport.

Leading environmental consultancy RPS is pleased to announce that it has been appointed, along with its design partners Atkins and Arup, to provide environmental assessment and mitigation expertise for the Welsh Government's £750m project to develop the M4 Corridor around Newport. As part of the ECI (Early Contractor Involvement) project, RPS will provide input to the contractor joint venture of Costain, VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Taylor Woodrow.

The proposals would include 24km of new motorway and a 2.5 km long cable-stayed viaduct crossing of the River Usk, as well as major remodelling of M4 junctions 23 and 29. The project would form part of the strategic roads network, and deliver government aims for a more efficient, safer and sustainable transport network, supporting and encouraging long-term prosperity in the region.

Scheme development work will commence immediately, leading up to an anticipated Public Local Inquiry in winter 2016/7. Upon successful completion of the statutory processes the second stage of the ECI work construction could start in spring 2018.

RPS Director Peter Ireland, environmental coordinator for the project said: “Building on our recent success with Costain and Atkins in delivering Section 2 of the Heads of Valleys scheme through the statutory process for the Welsh Government and the Church Village bypass which opened in 2010, we are delighted to be able to bring that expertise to this most interesting and challenging project.”