M4 Junction 3 to 12 Smart Motorway

Motorways in England are constructed and managed by the Highways Agency, which is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport and is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.

The M4 motorway (M4) is the main strategic route between London, the West of England and Wales, connecting directly to the M25 and Heathrow Airport. The M4 carries over 130,000 vehicles per day and currently suffers from heavy congestion making journey times unreliable. Traffic flows on the M4 are forecast to increase to an average of 160,000 vehicles per day over the next 20 years, which will result in even more congestion if nothing is done.

The Highways Agency is proposing to improve a 32 mile length of the M4 motorway between Junction 3 (Hayes) and Junction 12 (Theale) by making it a smart motorway.The smart motorway proposal on the M4 will use the latest technology to improve journeys by monitoring traffic flow and setting speed limits accordingly to keep traffic moving smoothly, instead of continually stopping and starting. The proposal also involves converting the hard shoulder permanently to a traffic lane to create much needed extra capacity necessary to support economic growth. Information about road conditions and speed limits will be displayed to drivers on electronic road signs.

A scheme of this scale is considered to be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project as defined by the Planning Act 2008. This means that the Highways Agency is required to submit an application for a Development Consent Order for approval to construct the scheme. A Development Consent Order is a Statutory Instrument that would undergo Examination by the Planning Inspectorate. Subject to its approval it would provide the Highways Agency with the powers to construct the smart motorway scheme.

The Planning Act 2008 requires the developer of a proposed scheme – in this case the Highways Agency – to consult with statutory bodies, local authorities, landowners, neighbouring communities and road users.

We want to make sure that the local community and road users have the opportunity to understand comment on our proposals. To do this we are undertaking public consultation until 21 December 2014. A questionnaire to capture your feedback is available via the ‘Respond online’ link below.