Find out more: proposals to transform 32 miles of the M4 between junctions 3 and 12, London/Bucks/Berks
Road users, local residents and businesses can find out more next week about proposals to transform the M4 into one of the longest stretches of ‘smart motorway’ in England by 2021.
The improvement, between junction 3, Hayes in London, and junction 12, Theale in Berkshire, would increase capacity, improve journey reliability and maintain safety.
The proposals are part of the Government’s investment into England’s motorways and major A-roads, which will see up to £3 billion a year pumped into improving the roads by 2021, underpinning economic growth and high quality jobs across the region.
Lynne Stinson, Highways Agency Project Manager said:
The M4 is an important corridor in and out of London for those who live and work in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, as well as those further afield in the South West and Wales, with around 130,000 vehicles using this stretch every day.
Based on proven benefits elsewhere, we have produced outline proposals that would see 32 miles of the M4 transformed into a ‘smart motorway’; we’re planning extra capacity by converting the hard shoulder into an additional traffic lane and introducing variable mandatory speed limits displayed overhead to help smooth the flow of traffic and reduce congestion, and to provide traffic information, with safety bays in place to maintain safety.
We’re inviting members of the public to come along to their nearest public exhibition to find out more about the scheme and give the project team their initial thoughts on the proposals to feed in to the ongoing scheme development. We will host further exhibitions later this year when assessments are complete and our proposals are nearing finalisation.
Subject to gaining consent, construction would be carefully planned to be carried out in phases from 2016.
As part of the proposals to convert the 32 miles of the M4 between junction 3 and 12 into a ‘smart motorway’:
- There would be 64 miles of new traffic lane taken from the existing hard shoulder, increasing capacity.
- The initial scheme design also includes 131 new gantries, with 32 existing gantries remaining.
- 11 bridges would be rebuilt to provide space for the additional traffic lane and provide safe journeys over the M4 for decades to come.
- 32 refuge bays are proposed alongside the carriageway for use by drivers in an emergency.
Seven public exhibitions are being held:
- Tuesday 18 March between 2pm and 8pm – St Giles Hotel, Hounslow Road, Feltham, TW14 9AD.
- Wednesday 19 March between 2pm and 8pm – Hillingdon Baptist Church, 25 Hercies Road, Uxbridge UB10 9LS.
- Friday 21 March between 2pm and 8pm – Theale Village Hall, Englefield Road, Reading, RG7 5AS.
- Saturday 22 March between 10am and 4pm – Holyport War Memorial Hall, Moneyrow Green, Holyport, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2NA.
- Thursday 27 March between 2pm and 8pm – Copthorne Hotel Slough, Cippenham Lane, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 2YE.
- Friday 28 March between 3pm and 8pm – Winnersh Community Centre, New Road, Wokingham RG41 5DU.
- Saturday 29 March between 10am and 4pm - St Martin’s Church Hall, Church Road, West Drayton UB7 7PT.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer