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Works to repair a crack discovered on the structure of the Boston Manor Viaduct are taking longer than expected, meaning the M4 has not reopened today (July 12th) as planned.
The damage was discovered while repair works were being carried out by the Highways Agency, which led to the closure of the road in both directions between junctions two and three.
This is a major blow to commuters as the motorway is one of the main gateways in and out of London and Heathrow Airport.
However, roads minister Mike Penning said the repairs were proving to be an engineering challenge and that he would not compromise on safety.
"Let's be absolutely clear, safety must be paramount and I will not allow the road to be reopened until this repair work has been completed successfully," he said.
"This is a very complex operation and it is not possible to predict precisely how long it will take."
Author: Editor Gavin Pearson (gpearson@acenet.co.uk or 0207 202 0255)
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