A major stretch of the M4 in Berkshire will be closed for an entire weekend next month while engineers install new high-voltage power lines.
The motorway will shut in both directions between Junction 10 at Winnersh and Junction 11 near Reading from 21:00 BST on Friday, 18 September, until 06:00 on Monday, 21 September.
The closure will allow Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to install new electricity cables between two pylons on either side of the motorway as part of the final stage of repairs following damage caused by a fallen tree earlier this year.
The electricity pylon near Hatch Farm Way in Winnersh was left structurally unsafe after the incident in February, prompting the evacuation of nearby residents before it was dismantled.
A replacement pylon was erected in July following months of design and preparation work, with the new overhead cables now needing to be installed.
SSEN said closing the motorway was the “only safe way” to carry out the work.
The company acknowledged there was “no ideal time” to close one of the busiest roads in southern England, but said it had chosen a September weekend to avoid the main holiday period and major summer events.
It said installing the high-voltage wires is a “delicate, precise task” that relies partly on human sight, making overnight working unsuitable and meaning the project needs to be completed before daylight hours become significantly shorter.
SSEN said restoring the network was essential to maintain reliable electricity supplies for millions of customers.
The closure has been planned with National Highways, while emergency services, local authorities and other organisations have also been informed.
Drivers will be diverted via the A329(M) and the B3270, with motorists warned to expect longer journey times on surrounding roads.
Hatch Farm Way, which runs alongside the motorway, will also be closed during the works, with residents able to access the area via Lower Earley Way North.
Jo Niven, SSEN Distribution’s head of maintenance, said the damage caused to the network in February had been “extensive” and it was important to return it to full operation as quickly as possible.
She said: “Closure of the M4 between junctions 10 and 11 for the weekend of 19-20 September is the only safe, practical way to do this.
“By being open and honest now about the need for this closure, we want to ensure everyone who might be using the M4 along this stretch, as well as those who’ll be travelling on diversionary routes, is given ample time to plan around this essential closure.”
She also thanked motorists and local residents for their patience and apologised for the disruption caused while repairs have been carried out over recent months.
