M4 closure this weekend between Slough and Maidenhead as Smart Motorway work continues

A busy stretch of the M4 motorway will be shut this weekend as Smart Motorway work continues in Berkshire.

The carriageway will be closed to traffic in both directions between Junction 6 ( Slough ) and Junction 8/9 ( Maidenhead ).

The closure is set to begin at 8pm on Friday, October 29, and continue through Saturday and Sunday.

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The M4 is then set to reopen by 6am on Monday, November 1.

A traffic diversion will be in place while the work takes place - with roads in the surrounding area likely to be busier than usual as a result.

National Highways said: "The M4 will be closed in both directions during the weekend of 29 October – 1 November 2021 between Junctions 6 (Slough) and 8/9 (Maidenhead). The closure will start after 8pm Friday October 29 and the motorway will reopen by 6am on Monday November 1.

The work is part of the ongoing National Highways project to upgrade a stretch of the M4 into a smart motorway.

The multi-million pound project will see the motorway converted to have four running lanes between Junction 3 (Hayes) and Junction 12 (Theale).

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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