MP describes further delays to M49 ‘Ghost Junction’ as farcical

The MP for Thornbury and Yate, Claire Young, has fiercely criticised National Highways after it was revealed that the M49 junction it built has serious faults that will delay the opening. 

The junction was completed 6 years ago to service the adjacent industrial park that is home to major warehouses. It was getting close to opening as South Gloucestershire Council worked on building the slip roads to the junction. 

Now National Highways has revealed faults in the junction which need rectifying, something it has known for a while, but has only just revealed. The opening date is likely to be postponed further, meaning lorries continue to use local roads. 

Claire Young said:

“It is farcical that National Highways has waited until now to tell us there is a problem with the M49 junction they built. 

It is 6 years since it was completed, and National Highways have watched South Gloucestershire Council build the slip road, only now to admit there is a serious issue with the junction. This, despite knowing there was a problem for months. 

National Highways were unable to tell me what the problems were when I spoke to them, but it means that the opening of this long awaited ‘ghost junction’ will almost certainly be delayed. 

My thoughts are with the long suffering local residents who will have to continue to deal with lorries thundering down their roads from massive warehouses that were located specifically to use this motorway junction. The surrounding roads are being ripped to shreds by lorries they were never designed to carry. 

Communication throughout has been poor; businesses and some local people are only now being told about the issue. I will continue to press National Highways and the government to sort out this mess as quickly as possible.”