Public information exhibitions for road users, local residents and businesses to find out more about proposals to transform the M4 into one of England’s longest stretches of smart motorway opened this week.

The improvement, expected to be complete by 2021, is planned for a 51km stretch of road between junction 3 and junction 12 (Heathrow to Theale) with an estimated cost of between £614M and £862M.

Highways Agency project manager Lynne Stinson said: “We are inviting members of the public to come along to find out more about the scheme and give the project team their initial thoughts.”

There is to be a run of seven exhibitions ending on 29 March, with more to come later in the year once assessments and proposals have neared completion. According to the Highways Agency the project will increase capacity, improve journey reliability and maintain safety.

Ms Stinson said around 130,000 vehicles use the stretch of road every day, adding: “Based on proven benefits elsewhere, we are 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.”

Subject to gaining consent, construction would be carried out in phases from 2016. In addition to 103km of new traffic lane taken from the existing hard shoulder, the proposals would result in 131 new gantries and 11 rebuilt bridges.

The scheme will also feature technology elements including MIDAS queue protection technology, CCTV coverage, MS4 information signs and lane specific speed signals at certain locations.

(Photo: Highways Agency)

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