M4 bridge repair works to close roads and affect busy junction

Motorists are being warned of delays on the M4 and one of its busiest junctions due to bridge repairs.

National Highways is carrying out what it says are essential works to replace expansion joints, carry out waterproofing and resurfacing in order to maintain the structure integrity of bridges over the motorway.

Work is being undertaken at Junction 12 – close to the Sainsbury’s and IKEA stores – in two phases.

There are currently overnight closures between 8pm and 6am every day but Sunday in the area around Junction 12 for Theale.

This includes the west side of the junction and its slip road.

The works run in two phases, with the first continuing until Friday, October 11.

The second starts on Monday, October 21, and continues through to Saturday, November 23.

A full weekend closure of the west side of junction 12, including the west bound slip road on to the M4 runs from 9pm on Friday, October 11, through to 6am on Monday, October 14.

These are weather dependent, and if works are unable to be completed a second closure will take place.

After November, the works will be paused until the new year, and resume with the eastern side of the junction.

The M4 will again be reduced to two lanes, starting from Monday, January 6, through to Friday, January 31.

Overnight junction closures run from 8pm to 6am on during this period, and then again from Monday, February 10, through to Friday, March 15.

A full weekend closure will run from 9pm on Friday, January 31, through to Monday, February 3.

Again, if National Highways are unable to complete the works, an additional weekend will be required. This is pencilled in for Friday, February 7, through to 6am on Monday, February 10.

Diversion routes will be set up across the closures.

For the west side junction, the diversion will be: 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, A4155 Bath Road to Theale Interchange junction 12 of the M4.

For the east side junction, traffic will be diverted via, A4155 Bath Road, A4155 Castle Hill, A33, A339 Ringway North, A340 Aldermanston Road, Main Road, Tadley Hill, A340 Aldermanston Road, A340 Paices Hill, A340 Basingstoke Road, A4 Bath Road to Theale Interchange Junction 12 of the M4.

Drivers wanting to join the M4 when the junctions are closed will be diverted to Junction 11 and directed from there.

Details are on nationalhighways.co.uk, along with dates for other works.