Important notice from the Highways Agency: Weight limit at Boston Manor, M4
A 7.5 tonne weight restriction remains in place on the M4 between Junctions 1 and 3 in both directions as a result of ongoing repair work at the Boston Manor Viaduct.
It is very important that drivers of vehicles of 7.5 tonnes or more comply with this restriction, observe the local signing and use the alternative routes available.
If you operate vehicles weighing 7.5 tonnes or more and use the M4 between junctions 1 and 3, please ensure your drivers follow the clearly signed diversion route using the dual carriageways of the A312 and A4. This applies to both eastbound and westbound traffic.
The Highways Agency is working closely with the police and VOSA to ensure compliance with the weight restriction.
Someone could wtite to their MP with a question along the lines of "Could the right honourable transport secretary tell us the lost economic value & future cost to the country of the continued closure of the Boston Manor viaduct’ to HGV’s
And from the latest missive, an update to the original in blue
VOSA is working closely with the Met Police and the Highways Agency to identify and take action against road users who do not comply. This action includes the issuing of fixed penalties for vehicles not complying with the weight restriction and reporting repeat offenders to the Traffic Commissioner.
Sarah Bell, Traffic Commissioner said:
“I am pleased that the vast majority of bus, coach and freight operators are heeding the 7.5t weight restriction in place on the M4 viaduct. It is disappointing that a few are not, presenting a poor impression of the industry. I have asked the Highways Agency and VOSA to report direct to my office any operators and drivers that appear to be disregarding the clear signs.”
Wheel Nut:
Sarah Bell is showing her hormonal dentistry too
To be fair though Malc, it’s should be known to both operators and drivers that disregarding a signposted weight limit could lead to an appearance before a TC.
How about they get off their arses and fix the viaduct? What a joke that a bridge carrying motorway traffic has a weight limit on it. Understandable if it was a disused railway bridge in a Cotswold village but it’s one of the busiest roads into London. Clearly the structural engineer was “networking” a bit too often and didn’t inspect the bridge often enough.
Muckaway:
How about they get off their arses and fix the viaduct? What a joke that a bridge carrying motorway traffic has a weight limit on it. Understandable if it was a disused railway bridge in a Cotswold village but it’s one of the busiest roads into London. Clearly the structural engineer was “networking” a bit too often and didn’t inspect the bridge often enough.
M53 J1 - flyover partially closed for ages (at least 18months) while they strengthened it. Its not an overnight fix I’m, afraid.
Maybe they could send those empty-lived hiz-viz wearing retiree sad acts, whose kids don’t visit them enough, from Bradford-on-Avon bridge to the M4 on special secondment.
The weight limit is being enforced yet, for buses and coaches on official Olympic duties and displaying a valid permit, the restrictions were lifted, eventually in both directions, as long as a 200m gap was left between vehicles.
So therefore, the viaduct cannot be in a dangerous condition, with imminent risk of collapse can it?!
As a previous poster has said, it would seem that some one hasn’t been doing their job properly over the many years when the viaduct has been closed for inspections usually during nightime periods.
They knew the Olympics was coming yet did nothing to fix the damage.
HA:
A programme of repair work on the Boston Manor viaduct which carries the M4 in west London has been substantially completed, and the temporary weight restriction between junctions 1 and 3 has been removed.
All eligible vehicles are now able to use the motorway between the junctions.
The work on the Boston Manor Viaduct just west of junction 2 began in May after a routine inspection found cracks in the structure and a temporary weight restriction was put into operation so the work could be carried out safely.
The restriction was removed this morning (Sunday).
What is underneath it? Can’t they just demolish it and flatten the road out (apart from the necessary bridges)? Anyway I stopped in Heston services on Friday morn and was amused to see no HGVs apart from 2 apparently abandoned trailers in the corner which must have racked up some fines.
transport secretary tell us the lost economic value & future cost to the country of the continued closure of the Boston Manor viaduct’ to HGV’s 
