DRIVERS are being reminded that bridge maintenance work will be carried out on the M4 this weekend.

The motorway will be closed in both directions between junction 12 for Theale and junction 13 for Chieveley, from 10pm on Friday, November 24, until 5am on Monday, November 27.

The work is part of a project to fully refurbish three bridges that carry the M4 over the B4009 Hampstead Norreys Road, Brocks Lane and Burnt Hill Road near Hermitage in West Berkshire.

For safety reasons the roads underneath the bridges will also be closed and local diversions will be in place.

This weekend’s work is the first of four weekend closures, which will see the bridges fully refurbished. This weekend, the old bridge beams will be removed using large cranes.

Highways England project sponsor Andrew Winson said: “Renewing these three bridges is a large and complex task, and closing the M4 is the only way to be able to complete it safely.

"By carrying out the work on all three bridges together, in a closely coordinated way, we hope to keep disruption to a minimum.

"We have worked closely with the local councils, the police and other stakeholders to plan the work, and I encourage any drivers planning a trip on the M4 this weekend to check ahead to see how they will be affected.”

There will be fully signed diversions in place. However as delays are expected, drivers are advised to consider alternative routes if possible.

Drivers seeking to use the M4 will be diverted via the A4.

Similar future closures are planned over the weekends of December 8-11, December 15-18 and January 12-15.