A new 50mph speed limit order is being brought in on the M4 around Swansea, because the Welsh Government has said it’s potentially dangerous.

Welsh ministers are introducing the “temporary” speed limit from M4 motorway junction 45 at Ynysforgan, to junction 46 at Llangyfelach, which will come into force on Saturday, December 12.

They say in documents introducing the new restrictions that “Welsh ministers, as traffic authority for the relevant length of the M4 motorway, are satisfied that traffic on specified lengths of the motorway should be restricted because of the likelihood of danger to the public or of serious damage to the road”.

The Welsh Government said the speed limit was being reduced due to the “structural condition of the safety barrier in the central reserve”, adding that an operational risk assessment was conducted which led to the action being taken.

The maximum duration of the order is for 18 months.

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There have been a number of reported incidents along the affected stretch of road over the years.

In November we reported how a four-vehicle crash closed junction 45 westbound for several hours, causing eight-mile tailbacks.

Do you think this will help make this stretch of the M4 safer? Join the discussion by telling us in the comments section here.

Councillor Robert Francis-Davies who represents the ward, approved of the news.

He said: “I would welcome it if it makes it safer for people. There has been a horrendous amount of accidents there over the years, and it will be well worth having this trial period to assess if it works.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The speed limit is being reduced because of the structural condition of the safety barrier in the central reserve.