M4 traffic: Eastbound closure ongoing after spilled liquid

The incident, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, December 12, saw the eastbound carriageway of the M4 close between Swindon and Newbury after reports of a hydraulic fluid spillage. A National Highways spokesperson confirmed that the road surface had been "significantly damaged by the spillage" and predicted that the road would likely be closed throughout the morning. But the clean-up job was far bigger than anticipated, and the M4 has now remained closed for over 10 hours due to the spillage.

One driver described the motorway as having been turned into a "skid pan." Traffic on the M4, as of 5pm (Image: National Highways) (Image: AA Traffic) As of 5pm, the M4 eastbound remains gridlocked and it is unclear when the motorway will reopen. Motorists trying to travel between Swindon and Newbury should follow the hollow circle diversion symbols put in place by National Highways.

The diversion route takes Swindon motorists off the M4 at junction 15 and via the A419 and the B4192 towards Eddington.

From there, motorists are being asked to take the A338 northbound towards Hungerford Newtown and then re-join the M4 eastbound at junction 14.