M4 closure this weekend at Heathrow and M25

Drivers heading onto the M4 this weekend will be spared a full weekend closure.

The motorway in Berkshire will instead be closed overnight each day, as part of ongoing smart motorway works.

It will be closed in both directions between junction 5 for Langley and junction 4b for the M25 overnight on Friday, October 22, Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24.

Read more: New M4 cameras could fine you £100

The M4 will shut at 8pm each night with the road due to reopen by 6am the following morning.

Drivers travelling on the M4 and to Heathrow Airport are urged to allow more time for their journeys or find alternative routes if possible.

Drivers will be diverted off the motorway and should follow the signed diversion.

The works are part of National Highways', formerly Highways England, smart motorway project. The multi-million pound project will see the M4 converted into four running lanes between Theale at junction 12 and Hayes at junction 3.

Smart motorways use technology to control "live lanes" which are closed in the event of vehicles breaking down or crashes. Hard shoulders are removed and turned into live lanes with refuge spots.

Roadworks have been in place on the motorway with 50mph limits and regular weekend closures for a number of years. The project is on track to finish in 2022. But many drivers have raised fears smart motorways are not safe, and a Government inquiry is now examining how effectively the existing smart motorways have reduced congestion and how safe they are.

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