Olympic Stadium CGI

The closure of the M4 is now just days from becoming a national embarrassment for Britain, according to the Labour Party.

The warning came after the Highways Agency (HA) missed its self-set target to reopen the M4 in central London today.

Work to fix a crack within the fabric of the Boston Manor Viaduct, which has seen the M4 closed between junction 2 and 3 since last weekend, is now predicted to be complete “within the next few days”.

The failure threatens travel chaos for operators as the Olympic build-up begins in earnest this weekend.

John Woodcock MP, Labour's shadow transport minister, says: “"We are now just days from the continued closure of the M4 becoming a national embarrassment for Britain in the run up to the Olympic Games.

"Ministers must explain why we are on the brink of humiliation when major issues with this bridge were uncovered months ago. Can ministers guarantee the M4 will be open in time for the start of the official games period on Monday? If not, what is their plan B?"

The HA is advising the use of the M3 and M40 while the M4, one of the main routes from Heathrow Airport into central London, remains closed.

Transport for London (TfL), which is managing the Olympic Route Network for the Games, has been warning motorists to avoid central London from this weekend (14-15 July), as officials and athletes are expected to begin arriving in the capital en masse ahead of the start of the competition on 27 July.

TfL was planning to switch on the M4 Games Lane (the old bus lane) from 15 July to speed the Olympic family on their way, but this option is currently in doubt. Operators are recommended to sign up to freight@tfl.gov.uk to receive regular emails and live traffic news can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/trafficnews

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