M4 full weekend closure at junction 12 for Theale

A full weekend closure of an M4 junction will begin tonight (Friday).

The west side of junction 12 - including the westbound entry slip road onto the M4 – will be shut from 9pm.

It is not expected to reopen until 6am on Monday (October 14).

The closure is to enable essential bridge repairs of the Theale Interchange.

It includes replacing the expansion joints, waterproofing and resurfacing and is to “maintain the structural integrity to both bridges”, said National Highways.

The weekend works will be weather dependent, however, so further closures may be needed.

A diversion will be in place during the closure, with traffic told to use the A4 Bath Road, A340 Basingstoke Road, A340 Paices Hill, A340 Aldermanston Road, A340 Mulfords Hill, Tadley Hill, Main Road, A340 Aldermanston Road, A339 Ringway North, A33, A4155 Castle Hill and A4155 Bath Road to the Theale Interchange at junction 12.

At present, the west side of the junction is reduced to two lanes and this will continue until November 22.

Throughout the works, the hard shoulder of the westbound carriageway under the bridge remains closed.

Further overnight closures of the west side of the junction, including the westbound entry slip road will take place from Octobe 21 until November 23, from 9pm until 6am, Monday to Saturday.

The works are taking place in two phases and this is part of the first one.

Phase two will begin at the beginning of January and will see works move to the east side of the junction.