Public exhibition to showcase M4 motorway improvements

Road users, businesses and residents are to be given the chance to have their say on plans to change a 32-mile stretch of the M4 into a 'smart motorway'.

The Highways Agency is proposing to increase capacity, improve journey reliability and maintain safety with major changes between junction 3, in Hayes, and junction 12, in Theale.

The route, which will cover Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, would introduce variable speed limits and the capacity for the hard shoulder to be opened up as an extra lane.

The project is part of a £3bn Government investment in England's motorways and major A-roads, with the aim of improvements being completed by 2021.

Public exhibitions are due to be held at various locations along the route including Slough and Holyport.

It will give residents the chance to find out more about the scheme and give the project team their initial thoughts about the proposals.

More exhibitions are also planned for later this year.

Subject to the proposals gaining consent, construction would begin in phases from 2016.

The plans would include 64 miles of new traffic lanes on the hard shoulder, 131 new gantries and the rebuilding of 11 bridges to accommodate the new traffic lane.

• A public exhibition will take place at the Holyport War Memorial Hall, in Moneyrow Green, on Saturday, March 22 between 10am and 4pm. It will then move to the Copthorne Hotel, in Cippenham Lane, Slough, between 2pm and 8pm on Thursday, March 27.