Work to improve journeys by converting the M4 into a smart motorway between Junctions 3 at Hayes to Junction 12 at Theale continues this week. 24 hour narrow lanes and a 50mph speed restriction are in place for sections of this stretch of the M4. Carriageway and slip road closures are planned as follows, all fully closed overnight (traffic management will usually be rolled out from 9pm and taken off by 6am).
WEEKEND CLOSURE IN FEBRUARY: The M4 between junctions 4b and 5 will be closed in both directions from approximately 10pm on Friday 21 February until 6am on Sunday 23 February 2020 (work will be out of the way for the Six Nations match at Twickenham that afternoon). Traffic will be diverted to the M25, A3113, A3044 and the A4. Strategic diversions will also be in place in the wider region using the M25, M3 and M40.The January 2020 news bulletin is available here .
We are aware that smart motorways have been in the news recently and were the subject of BBC's Panorama on Monday this week. Highways England has released a statement in relation to recent commentary which can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smart-motorways-our-current-position
Overnight full closures next week are as follows:
The M4 westbound carriageway between junctions 4b (M25) and 5 (Langley) will be closed overnight on Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5, and Thursday 6 February 2020. Clearly signed diversions will be in place utilising the A4, A3044, A3113 and the M25. The M4 westbound carriageway between junctions 11 (Reading) and 12 (Theale) will be closed overnight on Thursday 6 February 2020. Clearly signed diversions will be in place utilising the A33 and the A4. The M4 westbound carriageway between junctions 5 (Langley) and 6 (Slough/Windsor) will be closed overnight on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 February 2020. Clearly signed diversions will be in place utilising the A4 and the A355. The M4 westbound carriageway at junction 4 (Heathrow Airport) will also be closed overnight on Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5, and Thursday 6 February 2020. Drivers will be required to exit the motorway at junction 4 and rejoin at the same junction using the slip roads. There are also slip road closures booked as follows:
Junction 8/9 – the eastbound entry slip will be closed overnight on 3 and 4 February. Junction 10 – t he westbound entry slip from the A329M northbound (slip road 2) will be closed overnight on 6 and 7 February.In the event of poor weather conditions or other issues out of our control, planned work may be postponed at short notice. Contingency bookings are also in place, but these are only used if previously planned work is delayed and there is no clash with other closures. If work completes on an earlier day the motorway may not close, or if work completes ahead of schedule the motorway may reopen early. Signage will be in place on the network to notify of closures and diversions.