M4 junctions 3-12
We’ve made improvements on the M4 between junctions 3 and 12 by adding an additional lane for traffic to help increase capacity and reduce congestion. We’ve also put in place new technology to smooth traffic flows and manage incidents along this stretch.
Weekend closure: the M4 will be closed westbound between junctions 6 and 8/9 (Holyport Interchange) from 9pm on Friday 13 until 12pm on Sunday 15 October 2023. Diversion via A355, A332, A308 and A308(M).
Project information
Visit our M4 J3-12 feedback tool to have your say. The tool includes an interactive map. You can click on a location to make a specific comment, or give us your general feedback.
ECHO is a one-way feedback tool, so if you’d like a response to your feedback you can email the project team at: M4J3to12smartmotorways@nationalhighways.co.uk
Once our work is completed this stretch of the M4 will use the latest technology to monitor traffic flow and set speed limits. This will help keep traffic moving smoothly, instead of continually stopping and starting.
Between junctions 3 and 12 the hard shoulder will be converted to a traffic lane, so there will be four lanes available for use by road users. Between junctions 4 and 4b, there will be five lanes. There will also be five lanes on the eastbound approach to Junction 4b.
Where a hard shoulder does not currently exist, the motorway will be adapted to create a minimum of four lanes, including under the 11 bridges which are being replaced as part of the project. The barrier in the central reservation will be replaced by a new concrete barrier.
The M4 is the main strategic route between London, the West of England and Wales. It connects people, communities and businesses, carrying on average 130,000 vehicles per day.
The changes we’re making will:
- reduce congestion
- smooth the flow of traffic to improve journey times
- make journeys more reliable
- support economic growth within the region, by providing much needed capacity on the motorway
- continue to deliver a high level of safety performance on the network using smart motorway techniques and minimise environmental impacts of the scheme
The DCO process was established by the Planning Act 2008 and is used for certain large and complex schemes (including highway improvements) that have been designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) by the Government.
The benefits of the DCO process include extensive pre-application consultation, detailed analysis, including a full Environmental Impact Assessment, and examination by an independent inspector before the final decision is made.
Development Consent Order – requirements register
We made a commitment to publish and update a register listing the requirements to be completed as part of the Development Consent Order (specified under the Register of Requirements in Schedule 2). This sets out:
- each requirement
- whether the requirement needs approval by the Secretary of State (or other duty holder)
- whether any approval has been applied for or given
All of the DCO requirements needed to start work were discharged in summer 2018.
Since the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the project was granted in 2016, there have been some changes to the design and we’ve submitted an application to change the DCO. The following changes are included in the application:
-
No-Through Junction Running (No-TJR) is proposed at Junctions 5, 6, 8/9 and 11 where previously Through Junction Running (TJR) had been proposed;
-
three new bridges (Huntercombe Spur, Oldway Lane and Wood Lane) where the height is outside of the limits provided for by the DCO;
-
The widening of Sipson Road Subway to the north due to site constraints, instead of the previously proposed widening to the south;
-
To facilitate the detailed design of the scheme where details are not consistent with those set out in the Engineering Design report submitted with the DCO in 2015 and previously approved. This includes changes such as to the number of spans, footway locations and extensions to culverts; and:
-
Changes to acoustic barriers in the Wokingham area.
Full details including a copy of the application documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of the changes are available to be viewed and downloaded for inspection, free of charge, at the National Infrastructure Planning Portal.
Full details on how to respond are also available on the National Infrastructure Planning Portal. Any comments or representations on the Application must be received no later than 11.59pm on 03 June 2022.
Documents
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter May 2022
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter March 2022
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter December 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter October 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter August 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter July 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter June 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter May 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter April 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter March 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter February 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter January 2021
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter December 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter November 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter October 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - September 2020
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - August 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter July 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter June 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter May 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter April 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter March 2020
M4 junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter February 2020
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - January 2020
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - December 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - November 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - October 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - September 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - Summer 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - June 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - May 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - April 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - March 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - February 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - January 2019
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - December 2018
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - November 2018
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - October 2018
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - September 2018
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 upgrade - Newsletter - July 2018
Planning Act 2008 - Development Consent Order Fact Sheet - PDF Size 25KB
M4 Junctions 3-12 Managed Motorway - Business Case
M4 Junctions 3-12 Smart Motorway - Planning Inspectorate Introductory Meeting (2014)
Section 48 - Planning Act Notice (2014) - PDF Size 167KB
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 Smart Motorway (1 of 2) Red line drawings for scoping (2014)
M4 Junctions 3 to 12 Smart Motorway (2 of 2) Red line drawings for scoping (2014)
Public information exhibition display banners (Spring 2019)
Public information exhibition leaflet (Spring 2019)
M4 junctions 3-12 smart motorway – Public Exhibition Display (July 2018)
M4 junction 3-12 smart motorway – Public Exhibition Leaflet (July 2018)
M4 Junctions 3-12 Smart Motorway – Public Exhibition Poster (2014)
M4 Junctions 3-12 Smart Motorway – Public Exhibition Information (2014)

Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
Sign up for updates!
Keep up to date with what's happening on this scheme by signing up to our updates.