Highways Agency

Project

In December 2006, work started on a £6.7 million communications upgrade project between Junctions 10 and Junction 12 of the M4, with a projected completion date of August 2008.

The benefits of the scheme include:

• More reliable journeys
• Improved road safety
• Reduced congestion

New MS4 variable message signs are being installed along this stretch of the M4, which have the capacity not only to display pictures but also words to passing road users, providing them with better information about congestion or the condition of the road ahead. Additionally, new emergency telephones are being installed.

When the scheme is complete, a new incident detections system will also be active, which will identify queuing traffic on the M4 and automatically activate signals to warn approaching vehicles.

This will allow drivers to slow down when nearing congestion (reducing further incidents), or allow them to consider taking an alternative route, again helping to cut congestion. Similar schemes that have been implemented around the UK have successfully reduced the number of injury accidents by 13 per cent.

Work Programme

The scheme has required three separate phases of narrow lane restrictions to be installed between Junctions 10 and 12 of the M4 with a 50 mph speed limit in operation and average speed cameras used to enforce the speed restriction to ensure the safety of roadside workers and road users alike. The majority of the work has been undertaken during daylight hours.

Our team have been working on the hard shoulder or behind the embankments during the day to get this work done on schedule so drivers can soon realise the benefits of the new system.

Update

Installation of cross-carriageway MIDAS loops will shortly be completed and the next phase of work will involve the overnight installation of MS4s along the side of the M4 carriageway. The work will commence in early June and will continue for approximately four weeks. It will be undertaken in conjunction with the remaining installation works.

Unfortunately, we are unable to advise precise dates when the MS4 installations will take place. Although the outline programme of works is planned, it is subject to variation, and adverse weather conditions might affect the planned schedule. However, we expect that overnight work at each location will only last for one or two nights.

When planning road projects, we aim to ensure that the programme of work causes the least amount of disruption to road users and residents. In this case we are unable to carry out all the works during the daytime as the impact on traffic would be too severe. Please be assured that our Contractors will do their utmost to minimise any overnight noise and disruption.

Occasionally, there will be a requirement for hard shoulder or carriageway lane closures at specific sites on the M4 between Junction 10 and Junction 12 during the MS4 Installation programme. The night closures will take place between the hours of 9.30pm (hard shoulder only) or 11.30pm (lane closures) and will be removed by 6am the following morning.

Following the successful completion of the MS4s, the whole system will be programmed to become activated during August 2008.

Traffic Management

Please note that this information is not updated in real time. Please check Traffic England for the latest information and current traffic conditions.

For more information about the variable message signs please visit the Highways Agency online Knowledge Centre.