M4 Junction 11 and A33 Shinfield Road works

Construction work on a major improvement scheme to upgrade junction 11 of the M4 and surrounding roads in Shinfield started in mid 2008.

The £65million scheme will improve the motorway junction as well as surrounding roads, including the Mereoak roundabout and part of the A33 Swallowfield Bypass in Shinfield.

The project will eventually reduce congestion at the busy junction and increase public transport provision, footpaths and cycle lanes. 

Due to its size, the project will be completed in stages, with all work expected to be finished by summer 2010.

Building work

The first phase of building work on the southeast quadrant started in July 2008, following on from preparatory work, including construction of the site compound in Mereoak Lane, demolition of the Horseman Coaches and Thames Valley Police buildings in Whitley Wood and essential relaying of communication and utility cables in Shinfield.   

Work on the new junction bridges started in 2009 - these are positioned either side of the existing bridges. Other work that has started includes building up the north east embankment so a new gyratory can be constructed, building two additional lanes on the A33 relocating the Highway's Agency salt dome - which is now working and can store up to 2,000 tonnes of salt for use on icy roads.

Details on future work will be available here and Reading Borough Council's website

The existing motorway junction will remain open throughout the works in order to minimise disruption, although there may be slip-road, local road and lane closures as well as footpath closures at various times as the scheme progresses. Alternative routes will be signed and, where possible, these closures will not take place during peak traffic hours. 

Improvements

The project includes constructing a four-lane motorway junction with two new strategic road bridges around the existing motorway junction. The existing road bridges will be retained, with one solely for pedestrians and cyclists and the other for buses.                                                                        

Two new signalised junctions south of the M4 at Mereoak, Shinfield, will also be constructed replacing the existing Three Mile Cross roundabout. Landscaping scheme will be created to complement the scheme.

We are working with the Highways Agency and project leader Reading Borough Council on the scheme. Contractor, Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure, is undertaking the construction work. The Department for Transport released funding for the scheme in March 2008.

Finding out more

Residents living in Shinfield and Swallowfield, local businesses and community groups will be kept updated throughout the works via newsletters, meetings and a dedicated customer care team on site. The customer care team can be contacted by calling 0845 241 7757 or emailing: m4@laingorourke.com