M4 (Great Britain)

For other uses, see M4 motorway (disambiguation).

M4
M4 highlighted in blue Shown with UK motorway network
Prince of Wales Bridge looking towards Wales
Route information
Part of E 30
Maintained by National Highways South Wales Trunk Road Agent
Length	189 mi (304 km)
Existed	1963–present
History	Opened: 1959 (Chiswick Flyover), 1961 (as A4(M)), 1963, 1966 (as A48(M)) Completed: 1996
Major junctions
East end	Chiswick 51°29′23″N 0°16′41″W
Major intersections	J4b → M25 motorway / J8/9 → A308(M) motorway/A404(M) motorway J10 → A329(M) motorway J19 → M32 motorway J20 → M5 motorway J21 → M48 motorway J22 → M49 motorway J23 → M48 motorway J29 → A48(M) motorway
To	Pont Abraham 51°44′42″N 4°03′54″W
Location
Country	United Kingdom
Counties	Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Newport, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire
Primary destinations	London Heathrow Airport Slough Maidenhead Reading Newbury Swindon Bristol Newport Cardiff Bridgend Port Talbot Neath Swansea
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom E-roads Motorways A and B road zones
← M3 → M5

The M4, originally the London-South Wales Motorway, is a motorway in the United Kingdom running from west London to southwest Wales. The English section to the Severn Bridge was constructed between 1961 and 1971; the Welsh element was largely complete by 1980, though a non-motorway section around Briton Ferry bridge remained until 1993. On the opening of the Second Severn Crossing in 1996, the M4 was rerouted over it.

The line of the motorway from London to Bristol runs closely in parallel with the A4. After crossing the River Severn, toll-free since 17 December 2018, the motorway follows the A48, to terminate at the Pont Abraham services in Carmarthenshire.

The M4 is the only motorway in Wales apart from its two spurs: the A48(M) and the M48. The major towns and cities along the route—a distance of approximately 189 miles (304 km)—include Slough, Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend, Port Talbot and Swansea.

History

A new road from London to South Wales was first proposed in the 1930s. In 1956 the Ministry of Transport announced the plans for the first major post-war road improvement projects.

The Chiswick flyover, a short section of elevated dual-carriageway, not originally classed as a motorway, opened in 1959 to reduce the impact of traffic travelling between central London and the west.

M4 bridge over the River Neath (left)
original A48(M) bridge (right)

The Maidenhead bypass (J7-J9) opened in 1961, the section from Slough to Maidenhead (J5-J7) opened in 1963 and J1-J5 opened on 24 March 1965 incorporating the Chiswick Flyover. The stretch from J18 to the west of Newport was opened in 1966, including the Severn Bridge. The Port Talbot by-pass, also built in the 1960s and now part of the M4, was originally the A48(M) motorway, a number now allocated to a short section of motorway near Cardiff. The Ministry of Transport originally intended that the M4 would terminate at Tredegar Park west of Newport, and following the creation of the Welsh Office that the Government became committed to a high-standard dual carriageway to Carmarthenshire.

The English section of the motorway was completed on 22 December 1971 when the 50-mile (80 km) stretch between junctions 9 and 15 Maidenhead and Swindon) was opened to traffic. The Welsh section was largely completed between 1970 and 1980, though a non-motorway section remained across the Briton Ferry bridge until 1993, when a second motorway-only bridge opened.

In 1996, the Second Severn Crossing opened with new link motorways on either side of the estuary to divert the M4 over the new crossing. At the same time, the original route over the Severn Bridge was redesignated the M48, and the M49 was opened to link the new crossing with the M5 at Avonmouth. The new M49 shortened the route between South Wales and the South West, and reduced traffic at the busy M4/M5 junction at Almondsbury.

After completion

In April 2005, speed checks carried out by police camera vans between junction 14 and junction 18 led to a public protest, involving a "go-slow" of several hundred vehicles along the affected sections of the motorway.

Between 2007 and January 2010, the section from Castleton (junction 29) to Coryton (junction 32) was widened to six lanes. The scheme was formally opened on 25 January 2010 by Ieuan Wyn Jones the Deputy First Minister for Wales.

During 2009, the Newport section of the motorway between junctions 23a and 29 was upgraded with a new concrete central barrier. In February 2010, it was proposed that the M4 in South Wales would become the first hydrogen highway with hydrogen stations provided along the route, with an aspiration for further stations to be provided along the M4 into South West England over time.

Between 2008 and 2010, junction 11 was extensively remodelled with a new four-lane junction, two new road bridges and other works. The £65 million scheme included work on the Mereoak roundabout and part of the A33 Swallowfield Bypass near Shinfield, and also the conversion of the two existing bridges, one of which is available only to pedestrians and cyclists and the other to buses. It also involved the movement of the local Highways Agency and Fire Service offices, and the construction of a long footbridge network, a new bus lane and a new gyratory. Sound barriers for nearby residential areas were also installed. In April 2008, the decision to preserve a rare Vickers machine gun pillbox and turn it into a bat roost was announced by the developers.

Former bridge tolls

Tolls were charged on the Severn Bridge(s) from opening until 2018. In 1966 the toll was 12.5 pence each-way for cars, rising to £1 in the late 1980s. Around 1991 the toll was doubled but charged in the westbound direction only, to reduce queuing. After 1996, the tolls were equal westbound-only on both bridges, and rose steeply after 2000 to a peak of £6.70 for cars in 2017, leading to protests from Welsh businesses. Tolls on both bridges over the River Severn were eliminated on 17 December 2018, and the former toll booths were removed in 2019.

Timeline of construction

Year opened	1961	1963	1965	1966	1967	1971	1972	1977	1980	1994
Section(s)	J7–9	J5–7	J1–5	J18–23 J39–41	J22–28	J9–18	J44–46	J28–29 J32–35 J37–39 J46–49	J29–32 J35–37	J41–44

Animated map showing build progress at five-years (or greater) intervals.
Note: When the Second Severn Crossing was opened in 1996, the M4 was re-routed and the section of motorway between Junctions 21 to 23 became the M48.

Maintenance

Maintenance of the Second Severn Crossing and the 123 miles (198 km) of motorway in England is the responsibility of National Highways. The 76 miles (122 km) in Wales is the responsibility of the South Wales Trunk Road Agent.

Features

Speed limits

For the majority of its length, the national speed limit applies. Exceptions include the following:

• 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) on the Chiswick Flyover within London in both directions.
• 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) between junction 4 and the Chiswick Flyover, eastbound only.
• 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) on the Port Talbot elevated section between junction 40 and junction 41. The fixed speed camera was removed in 2006 as it was believed to be causing tailbacks. In July 2014, an average speed camera system was installed; it generated around £500,000 in fines in the first six months.
• 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) between junctions 24 and 28 at Newport.

Smart motorway

Construction of electronic indicator signs for the variable speed limit scheme at junction 27 and a new concrete reservation (2010)

The M4 has one section of smart motorway, between junctions 19 (M32) and 20 (M5) north of Bristol, where there are variable speed limits and a part-time hard-shoulder. Completion was in summer 2014. Another section between junctions 24 and 29 in Newport had variable speed limits until 2021, when it was changed to a permanent 50 mph limit with average speed cameras.

In 2010, it was announced that the motorway would be changed to a smart motorway between junctions 3 and 12. With a length of 32 miles (51 km), this will be the longest smart motorway scheme in the United Kingdom. Work started in autumn 2018 and is expected to be completed in March 2022 at a cost of £848 million.

Brynglas tunnels

Brynglas Tunnels – western portals

The Brynglas Tunnels carry the M4 under Brynglas Hill in Newport. The 360-meter-long (390 yd) tunnels are the first and only twin–bored tunnels in the UK motorway network (the Dartford Tunnel is not classified as part of the M25 motorway). In July 2011, a lorry fire in one tunnel closed the motorway. Although there were no injuries and no deaths, the tunnel remained closed and a contraflow system was in place in the remaining tunnel for about one month, causing major travel delays.

Bus lane

M4 bus lane near Norwood Green

In June 1999, the M4 bus lane was created on the third lane between junctions 2 and 3, initially as a pilot scheme and then a permanent arrangement from 2001. A lower speed limit was introduced along this section at the same time. The 3+1⁄2-mile (5.6 km) bus lane was on the eastbound carriageway; from the western end of the Chiswick Flyover near Brentford to junction 3 (A312), covering part of the 15-mile (24 km) journey between Heathrow Airport and central London. The lane which had no intermediate exits was for use by buses, coaches, motorcycles, emergency vehicles and licensed taxis but not mini-cabs.

In December 2010, the bus lane was suspended for 18 months. It was reinstated temporarily for the 2012 Summer Olympics and then permanently decommissioned.

Porous road surface

Near junction 35 of the M4, there is a stretch of the motorway that has a surfacing of porous asphalt that improves drainage and reduces noise. When driving in heavy rain drivers notice a reduction in road spray from other vehicles and improved visibility. This special surface was publicised in an episode of the BBC's Tomorrow's World programme. This was the site of the first trial of the new road surface when it was laid down in 1993.

Elevated and heated section

The elevated section of the M4 in West London, built in the 1960s, is mostly directly above the A4 and extends over parts of Brentford's Golden Mile. This section was designed to have a heated road surface to reduce icing in winter.

Four level stack interchanges

M4 junction with the M25 near Heathrow Airport

The M4 has two of the three four-level stack interchanges in the UK, including the first UK example at junction 20, the "Almondsbury Interchange" with the M5. The other is junction 4b with the M25. Junction 4b has to make provision for the railway line passing beneath the M4. Due to the nature of these junctions, one cannot make a U-turn at either of them.

Notable junctions

Junction 8/9 near Maidenhead, Berkshire, and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire is the only one in the UK with dual numbers. This arose at the time when the M4 turned north near junction 8, where it met the A308, and headed for the original junction 9, where the motorway ended at a roundabout interchange with the A4. When the westward extension was opened, junction 8 was closed and a new junction built a little to the west, taking both numbers. The road to the A4 became A423(M) and later A404(M), and the junction with the A4 became 9B. Junction 9A is the exit for Cox Green and White Waltham. To the west of junction 13 on the eastbound carriageway there are a set of sliproads signposted "Works Unit Only". The signs have red borders, implying a military exit. It is a back entrance to RAF Welford, a Second World War airfield and now an RAF/USAF military installation mainly used for storing munitions. The M4 entrance allows easier access for the large vehicles used to carry the munitions.

Plans for the "missing" Junction 31, also known as the Thornhill interchange, for which planning permission was originally granted in September 1991 (but subsequently expired), were rekindled after proposals for a new business park on a 125 acres (51 ha) site north of the M4 were submitted in 2007 to Cardiff Council. The developers of the business park, St Modwen Developments, would likely fund the new junction, which would be on the A469. A freedom of information request in 2010 to Cardiff Council shows that whilst the land that would enable this junction should continue to be strategically protected, the decision to formally abandon the proposed Junction 31 Thornhill was made in October 2007 and there had been no subsequent mention of it in Cardiff Council Strategic or Planning meetings since. In South Wales, the M4 has to thread its way through mountainous terrain and built-up areas, so there are some unusual junction layouts. Junction 27 (High Cross) is a normal grade-separated roundabout junction, but has severe space constraints: traffic joining the motorway must initially travel in the opposite direction to the intended direction of travel, before making a sharp left-hand turn from the slip road onto the motorway. At the time of construction, junction numbers 30 and 31 were reserved for future intermediate interchanges. Junction 30 (Cardiff Gate) has since been added, but there are no current plans to construct Junction 31 (A469 road). Junction 39 can only be used to access the motorway from a single slip road onto the westbound carriageway from the A48 at junction 38. There is no exit from the motorway at this junction.

Junction 41 comprises two different junctions; one for local traffic to and from the west and one from the east. The former leads to and from a spur leading to the roundabout in Briton Ferry, formerly known as junction 41a, and the original bridge over the River Neath, which would allow access onto the stretch of the M4 from junction 43 westward. The second, eastern junction leads to and from the A48 towards Port Talbot. As a result, one can travel for almost 2 miles (3.2 km) on the motorway in either direction, both joining and then leaving the motorway at junction 41. Junction 44 is unusual in that the eastbound entrance dives under the inside of the junction, effectively creating a "right-turn" on a roundabout. Similarly, slip roads pass under or over the main motorway at junctions 41 and 42.

There have been calls to close the slip roads at junctions 40 and 41 to improve traffic flow. The motorway has only two lanes on this stretch and is a major traffic congestion blackspot. The short slip roads have not been modernised. A small-scale trial of closing the westbound on-slip of junction 41 between 7 am and 9 am and from 4 pm to 6 pm on weekdays started on 4 August 2014 but following heavy criticism from local businesses and residents, was stopped on 29 May 2015.

Relief road

Main article: M4 relief road

On 5 June 2019, the Welsh Government scrapped the proposal for a proposed motorway south of Newport. The Welsh Assembly Government had revived the scheme as a tolled bypass in 2007 and later abandoned it for financial reasons. An extension to the Newport Southern Distributor Road through the old Corus steel works was considered. This road is already a dual carriageway. A public consultation exercise on options for improving the capacity of the M4 corridor around Newport opened on 5 March 2012. Its website states that: "the motorway around Newport does not conform to today's motorway standards. It lacks continuous hard shoulders, has closely spaced junctions with sub-standard slip road visibility and narrows to a restricted two lane section through the Brynglas Tunnels. Heavy congestion occurs along this stretch and either side of it at peak hours."

List of junctions

M4 motorway
mile	km	Eastbound exits (B carriageway)	Junction	Westbound exits (A carriageway)
7.3	11.8	Road continues as A4 to Central London	J1	Start of motorway
8.3 8.5	13.4 13.7	North Circular A406 South Circular A205 Chiswick A315	J2	Staines, Hounslow, Brentford A4
12.5 12.8	20.1 20.6	Heston services	Services	Heston services
13.4 13.7	21.5 22.1	Heathrow (Terminals 4, 5 & Cargo), Hayes, Harrow, Hounslow A312	J3	Heathrow (Terminals 4, 5 & Cargo), Hayes, Harrow, Hounslow A312
15.2 15.7	24.5 25.2	Heathrow (Terminals 2 & 3) (A4) Uxbridge A408	J4a	Heathrow (Terminals 2 & 3) (A4) Uxbridge A408
16.8 17.7	27.0 28.5	Heathrow (Terminals 4, 5 & Cargo) , Gatwick Airport , Watford (M3), (M23), (M40), (M1) M25	J4b Harmondsworth Interchange	Heathrow (Terminals 4, 5 & Cargo), Gatwick, Watford (M3), (M23), (M40), (M1), M25
		Entering Greater London		Entering Berkshire
19.1 19.5	30.7 31.4	Colnbrook, Langley, Slough (East) A4 Eton, Datchet B470	J5	Colnbrook, Langley, Slough (East) A4, Datchet B470
22.9 23.2	36.8 37.4	Slough (Central) A355 Windsor A322	J6	Slough (Central) A355 Windsor A322
		Entering Berkshire		Entering Buckinghamshire
24.7 25.0	39.8 40.3	Slough (West) A4	J7	Slough (West) A4
		Entering Buckinghamshire		Entering Berkshire
27.8 28.2	44.7 45.4	High Wycombe, Henley A404(M) Maidenhead A308(M)	J8/9	High Wycombe, Henley A404(M) Maidenhead A308(M)
35.0 35.8	56.4 57.6	Reading (East), Wokingham, Bracknell A329(M)	J10	Reading (East), Wokingham, Bracknell A329(M)
40.6 41.2	65.4 66.3	Basingstoke, Reading (Central & South) A33	J11	Basingstoke, Reading (Central & South) A33
43.5 43.8	70.0 70.5	Reading services	Services	Reading services
45.3 45.7	72.9 73.5	Reading (West), Theale A4	J12	Reading (West), Theale A4
56.9 57.2	91.5 92.1	Newbury, Oxford A34 Chieveley services (Moto)	J13 Services	Newbury, Oxford A34 Chieveley services (Moto)
64.4 64.8	103.7 104.3	Hungerford, Wantage A338	J14	Hungerford, Wantage A338
68.7	110.5	Membury services	Services	Membury services
		Entering Berkshire		Entering Wiltshire
76.4 77.1	122.9 124.0	Swindon (East) A419 Marlborough A346 Oxford (A420)	J15	Swindon A419, Marlborough A346
82.4 82.8	132.6 133.2	Swindon (West), Royal Wootton Bassett, Wroughton, MoD Lyneham, Calne A3102	J16	Swindon (West), Royal Wootton Bassett, Wroughton, MoD Lyneham, Calne A3102
94.8 95.3	152.5 153.4	Chippenham A350 Cirencester A429	J17	Chippenham A350 Cirencester A429
96.7	155.7	Leigh Delamere services	Services	Leigh Delamere services
		Entering Wiltshire		Entering Gloucestershire
104.9 105.6	168.8 170.0	Bath, Stroud A46	J18	Bath, Stroud A46
112.8 113.2	181.5 182.1	Bristol M32	J19	Bristol M32
115.8 116.3	186.3 187.2	The South West, Bristol (West), The Midlands, Gloucester, Bristol Airport , M5	J20 Almondsbury Interchange	The South West, Bristol (West) M5(S) The Midlands, Gloucester M5(N)
117.7 189.5	189.5 190.0	No access	J21	Chepstow M48
121.3 121.6	195.2 195.7	Avonmouth M49	J22	Avonmouth M49
121.7 124.1	195.9 199.8	Entering Gloucestershire	Second Severn Crossing	Entry into Wales
		Entry into England		Entering Gwent
127.0	204.4	No toll plaza	Bridge Toll	Former toll plaza (closed Dec 2018)
129.2	208.0	Chepstow M48	J23	No access
131.4 132.2	211.4 212.8	Magor, Caldicot A4810 Magor services	J23A Services	Magor, Caldicot A4810 Magor services
134.8 135.6	217.0 218.3	City centre A48 Newport (East) B4237 Monmouth A449 The Midlands (M50)	J24	City centre A48 Newport (East) B4237 Monmouth A449
137.9	222.0	No access	J25	Caerleon B4596
138.3	222.6	No access	J25A	Newport, Cwmbran A4042
138.8 139.1	223.4 223.8	Brynglas Tunnels	Tunnel	Brynglas Tunnels
139.1 139.5	223.8 224.5	Newport, Cwmbran, Caerleon A4051	J26	Newport A4051
140.8 141,4	226.6 227.6	High Cross B4591	J27	High Cross B4591
142.0 142.9	228.5 230.0	Newport A48 Risca, Brynmawr A467	J28	Newport A48 Risca, Brynmawr A467
143.6	231.1	No access	J29	Cardiff (East and South) A48(M)
		Entering Gwent		Entering South Glamorgan
146.6 147.3	236.0 237.0	Cardiff (East) A4232 Cardiff Gate services	J30 Services	Cardiff (East) A4232 Cardiff Gate services
151.9 244.5	244.5 246.1	Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff A470	J32	Cardiff (North), Merthyr Tydfil A470
155.4 156.0	250.1 251.1	Cardiff (West), Barry, Penarth A4232 Cardiff Airport Cardiff West services	J33 Services	Cardiff (West), Barry, Penarth A4232 Cardiff Airport Cardiff West services
157.5 158.1	253.5 254.4	Llantrisant, Rhondda A4119 Royal Glamorgan Hospital	J34	Llantrisant, Rhondda A4119 Royal Glamorgan Hospital
		Entering South Glamorgan		Entering Mid Glamorgan
163.9 164.4	263.7 264.5	Pen-coed A473	J35	Bridgend, Pen-coed A473
167.5 168.3	269.6 270.8	Bridgend A4061 Maesteg A4063 Princess of Wales Hospital Sarn Park services	J36 Services	Bridgend A4061 Maesteg A4063 Princess of Wales Hospital Sarn Park services
172.8 173.5	278.1 279.3	Pyle, Porthcawl A4229	J37	Porthcawl, Pyle A4229
		Entering Mid Glamorgan		Entering West Glamorgan
177.0 177.3	284.9 285.3	Port Talbot A48	J38	Port Talbot A48
178.3	286.9	No access (on-ramp only)	J39	No access
179.7 179.9	289.2 289.6	Port Talbot A4107	J40	Port Talbot A4107
180.9 181.3	291.1 291.8	Port Talbot A48	J41	Briton Ferry A48
183.9 184.9	295.9 297.3	Briton Ferry A48 Swansea (South) A483	J42	Swansea (South) A483
184.9 185.7	297.5 298.8	Neath, Merthyr Tydfil A465	J43	Neath, Merthyr Tydfil A465
187.0 187.4	300.9 301.6	Swansea (East) A48	J44	Swansea (East) A48
188.8 189.3	303.9 304.7	Pontardawe, Swansea (North) A4067	J45	Pontardawe, Swansea (North) A4067
190.8 191.4	307.0 308.0	Llangyfelach B4489 Felindre Morriston Hospital	J46	Llangyfelach B4489 Felindre Morriston Hospital
192.4 193.1	309.6 310.7	Swansea (West) A483 Gorseinon A48 Swansea services	J47 Services	Swansea (West) A483 Gorseinon A48 Swansea services
		Entering West Glamorgan		Entering Dyfed
196.4 197.1	316.0 317.2	Pontarddulais, Llanelli A4138	J48	Pontarddulais, Llanelli A4138
199.2	320.6	Start of motorway	J49 Terminus Services	Motorway terminates at a roundabout: Carmarthen A48 Ammanford, Llandeilo A483 Pontarddulais A48 Pont Abraham services
Incomplete access        Tolled

Coordinate list

Data from driver location signs and location marker posts are used to provide distance and carriageway identification information. Where a junction spans several hundred metres and the data is available, both the start and finish values for the junction are shown.

E30

Although not signed, European route E30 includes most of the M4. The entire route runs 6,530 kilometers (4,060 mi) between Cork in Ireland and Omsk in Russia.

Major incidents and accidents

• In June 1984 a crash near Maidenhead resulted in 13 deaths.
• In March 1991, ten people died in the 1991 M4 motorway crash near Hungerford. The crash involved 51 vehicles in foggy conditions.
• In May 1995 a coach carrying Royal British Legion members left the M4 close to the Severn Bridge, resulting in 10 deaths.
• In April 1998, drummer Cozy Powell died following a car accident on the M4 near Bristol.
• In July 2002, Gus Dudgeon, a music producer known for his work with Elton John, and his wife died when the car he was driving veered off the M4 between Reading and Maidenhead. The inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.

See also

• M4 corridor
• M4 Thames Bridge, Maidenhead
• List of motorways in the United Kingdom
• Transport in Wales

Further reading

• Jackson, Mike (2005). The M4 Sights Guide. Severnpix. ISBN 978-0954540227.

External links

• CBRD Motorway Database – M4
• British Road Database: Motorways – M4 Junction 8/9
• The Motorway Archive
  • Junctions 1 to 5
  • Junctions 5 to 7
  • Junctions 8 to 14
  • Junctions 14 to 21
  • Junctions 21 to 23
  • Junctions 23 to 49
• Map of the preferred route around Newport (relief road)