M4 motorway closures between J10 and J11 in Berkshire cause major delays after a police chase crash and emergency SSEN pylon repairs.
M4 motorway closures between J10 and J11 in Berkshire [Photo: X]
Traffic across Berkshire came to a near standstill this week after two separate emergencies forced back-to-back closures on one of the UK’s busiest roads, the M4 motorway. Drivers faced long queues, missed appointments and hours of delays after a police pursuit crash, and urgent electricity pylon repairs shut key sections between Junction 10 and Junction 11.
The incidents unfolded over two consecutive days, disrupting thousands of journeys and causing congestion that stretched for miles across surrounding roads.
The disruption began in the early hours of Tuesday, February 17, when Metropolitan Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle in London around 03:15 GMT. The driver failed to stop, triggering a pursuit that eventually moved onto the M4 westbound near Junction 10, close to Reading.
During the chase, the suspect reportedly rammed a police vehicle. Authorities later confirmed, “During the pursuit, the driver rammed a police car, causing it to swerve and lose a tyre.”
The chase ended when the suspect’s vehicle crashed. Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene. Officers arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of dangerous driving, attempted grievous bodily harm, possession of a bladed weapon, driving on false plates, failing to stop for police and driving through a red light.
Paramedics from the South Central Ambulance Service transported the man to the hospital. Officials described his injuries as non-life-threatening.
Authorities issued clear diversion instructions to manage traffic flow:
Despite diversions, local roads in Wokingham, Reading and surrounding areas saw heavy congestion.
The closures affected commuters, business travellers and holidaymakers. Drivers heading toward Heathrow Airport, Reading business parks or cities further west, such as Bristol and Cardiff, reported extended journey times.
Congestion stretched westbound toward Junctions 8 and 9 and eastbound toward Junction 12 near Theale. Many motorists turned to rail services from Reading as an alternative.
Following the crash, authorities closed the westbound carriageway between Junction 10 (Winnersh Interchange) and Junction 11 (Three Mile Cross). A significant fuel spillage and barrier damage required urgent cleanup and resurfacing work.
National Highways warned drivers about severe delays and urged motorists to plan. Officials stated, “If this closure impacts your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.”
Traffic quickly built up toward Junction 9 near Maidenhead, with tailbacks stretching over a mile at peak times. Crews worked throughout the day and into the night to reopen lanes safely.
Just as traffic began to recover, a second emergency struck on Wednesday, February 18. National Highways announced a full closure of the M4 in both directions between J10 (A329M/Wokingham) and J11 (Reading).
The shutdown followed the discovery of structural damage to a high-voltage power line pylon near the motorway. Engineers from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) launched urgent repairs to secure the structure, especially with strong winds forecast. National Highways confirmed, “SSEN will be attending to carry out the necessary repairs.
“Due to the extent of the damage, the M4 is expected to remain closed in both directions throughout the rush hour period, into the morning of Wednesday, 18th February. If this closure impacts your planned route, please allow extra journey time.
“Plan, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.” The emergency repairs required specialist high-voltage safety procedures, making a full motorway closure unavoidable.
Although the two incidents were unrelated, they highlighted how quickly major infrastructure problems can disrupt daily life. The M4 remains a critical transport link connecting London to South Wales, and even short-term closures can ripple across the wider region.
Emergency repairs and police investigations remain essential for public safety. However, the events served as a reminder for drivers to check travel updates and plan flexible routes when travelling on major UK motorways.
As crews completed repairs and gradually reopened sections, Berkshire motorists hoped for smoother journeys ahead after two days of unexpected disruption.
