There were huge tailbacks on a major route heading towards Newport after a crash on Saturday morning. All traffic was halted on the A449 south of Raglan due to the incident, with police and ambulance crews at the scene.
All traffic was "temporarily held” on the dual carriageway - which connects the A40 at Raglan with the M4 at Newport - for more than 30 minutes. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.
Both lanes of the southbound stretch of the road were initially closed, before one lane was re-opened shortly before 11.30am. At one point, motorists were outside their vehicles as traffic was at a complete standstill and remained that way for some time.
Traffic remained heavy in the area into Saturday afternoon, before the road was fully re-opened shortly after 3.30pm.
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Road has reopened
Gwent Police has confirmed that the A449 has reopened in both directions following this morning's crash.
ℹ Road reopened. ℹ
— Gwent Police (@gwentpolice) April 13, 2024
Officers have now reopened the A449 Raglan to Usk following a road traffic collision earlier today.
Thank you for your patience.
Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/IGMyT8N576
Slow traffic in the area as one lane remains blocked
According to Google's traffic map, there is still slow moving traffic on the A449 between Raglan and Usk.
Both lanes of the southbound side of the dual carriageway were closed this morning following the collision, but one lane reopened at around 11.30am.
One lane remains closed as emergency services deal with collision
According to traffic monitoring service Inrix: "One lane closed and queueing traffic due to accident on A449 Southbound from A40 (Raglan Interchange, Raglan) to A472 (Usk Interchange, Llangeview).
"The road was previously blocked, lane one (of two) has now reopened."
Police remain at the scene along with paramedics
An eye-witness has told Wales Online that he saw “multiple emergency services” drive past his car to the location of this morning’s collision.
He said that police and ambulance had attended the scene.
People stood on the road outside their vehicles
People got out of their vehicles on the A449 as traffic was completely gridlocked.
Cars have now started moving slowly along the road heading south towards Newport, but the below image - taken at around 11.15am - shows the back-up of traffic that was in the area.
Traffic now 'moving slowly'
One passneger in a car on the A449 has told Wales Online that traffic is now "'moving slowly" after being totally gridlocked for "more than 30 minutes".
Traffic is still very slow according to Google's traffic map.
Traffic moving slowly according to Google Maps
The below map shows heavy traffic (in red) between Raglan and Usk.
Police ask people to avoid the area
Gwent Police has confirmed that the southbound stretch of the A449 is closed. The force has asked people to avoid the area and find alternative routes.
Road closed
— Gwent Police (@gwentpolice) April 13, 2024
Emergency services are dealing with a road traffic collision on the A449 between Raglan and Usk.
Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/d7bAUjC4oy
Traffic 'completely stuck'
One motorist, stuck in traffic on the A449, said "traffic has been completely stuck for the past 30 minutes".
He added that police vehicles are at the scene.
Diversions in place
The southbound side of the A449 is blocked, according to Inrix.
The traffic monitoring service said: “A449 Southbound blocked, queueing traffic due to accident from A40 (Raglan Interchange, Raglan) to A472 (Usk Interchange, Llangeview). Congestion to the A40 towards Abergavenny as traffic diverts.”
