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A404(M) motorway
Encyclopedia
The A404 is a motorway in Berkshire
, England
and can be referred to as the Maidenhead
West Bypass. It joins the M4
with the A404
dual carriageway to High Wycombe
, Marlow
and the M40
. It was once known as the A423(M).
and ending at a junction with the A4.
In 1963 the Slough
bypass was opened to junction 7 and the A4(M) was renumbered M4, junction 8 being with the A308 and junction 9 with the A4.
The proposed route of the M4 was then changed to go south of Reading
, instead of north of it. When the M4 was extended in 1971, a new junction was provided to connect with what would become a spur. As this new interchange was built too close to the existing junction 8, this had to be closed. A new spur, the A308(M)
, was built to maintain access to the A308 and connected with the A404(M) and the M4 at the same grade separated roundabout
. This new junction was numbered 8/9 so as not to confuse motorists and the interchange with the A4 became junction 9A. The old M4 was renumbered A423(M) as it was a direct continuation of the A423
to Oxford
.
Over time the A423 was superseded by the M40 and the A404 was improved to dual carriageway
standard, with a new routeing. Since the road now ran through a rebuilt junction 9b onto the A404 this motorway spur was reclassified A404(M) in the 1990s
Information above gathered from Advanced Direction Signs April 2011
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and can be referred to as the Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
West Bypass. It joins the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
with the A404
A404 road
The A404 is a road in the United Kingdom that starts at Paddington in London and leads to Maidenhead in Berkshire.The road initially follows a course through London and its suburbs including Harlesden, Wembley, Harrow Pinner, and Rickmansworth...
dual carriageway to High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, Marlow
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
and the M40
M40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
. It was once known as the A423(M).
Route
The A404(M) leaves the M4 at Junction 8/9, and heads north, passing Maidenhead and forming the town's western bypass before terminating at a junction with the A4 just outside Maidenhead. The road becomes the A404 which continues north passing Marlow before joining the M40 at the Handy Cross roundabout outside High Wycombe.History
The road was originally opened in 1961 as part of the A4(M) Maidenhead Bypass which ran from the existing junction 7, through a junction with the A308A308 road
The A308, is a road in England in two parts.*The Brompton to Fulham section starts at the A4 road by Brompton Oratory and Victoria and Albert Museum, and follows Fulham Road South West to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where it jumps south a block to follow Kings Road to meet the A219 road in...
and ending at a junction with the A4.
In 1963 the Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
bypass was opened to junction 7 and the A4(M) was renumbered M4, junction 8 being with the A308 and junction 9 with the A4.
The proposed route of the M4 was then changed to go south of Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, instead of north of it. When the M4 was extended in 1971, a new junction was provided to connect with what would become a spur. As this new interchange was built too close to the existing junction 8, this had to be closed. A new spur, the A308(M)
A308(M) motorway
The A308 is a motorway in Berkshire, England. It is 0.6 miles long and is possibly England's shortest motorway , although the westbound carriageway of the A64 is shorter...
, was built to maintain access to the A308 and connected with the A404(M) and the M4 at the same grade separated roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
. This new junction was numbered 8/9 so as not to confuse motorists and the interchange with the A4 became junction 9A. The old M4 was renumbered A423(M) as it was a direct continuation of the A423
A423 road
The A423 road is a primary A road in England which leads from central Banbury to the A45 near Coventry. It starts in Banbury town centre as Southam Road and goes through the Southam Road Industrial Estate, then just north of Banbury it crosses over the M40, from there it passes close to several...
to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Over time the A423 was superseded by the M40 and the A404 was improved to dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
standard, with a new routeing. Since the road now ran through a rebuilt junction 9b onto the A404 this motorway spur was reclassified A404(M) in the 1990s
Junctions
| A404(M) Motorway | ||
| Northbound exits | Junction | Southbound exits |
| Road continues as A404 A404 road The A404 is a road in the United Kingdom that starts at Paddington in London and leads to Maidenhead in Berkshire.The road initially follows a course through London and its suburbs including Harlesden, Wembley, Harrow Pinner, and Rickmansworth... to Marlow Marlow - United Kingdom :*Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire*Marlow, Buckinghamshire**Marlow Bridge, an old suspension bridge over the River Thames**Marlow F.C., a football club in Buckinghamshire**Marlow United F.C., a football club in Buckinghamshire... and Wycombe High Wycombe High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town... Oxford Oxford The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through... (M40 M40 motorway The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05... ) and Henley Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead... (A4130 A4130 road The A4130 is a British A road which runs from a junction with the A404 at Burchetts Green, Berkshire to the A417 at Rowstock in Oxfordshire. It passes through Henley-on-Thames, and Nettlebed, and bypasses Wallingford and Didcot.... ) |
A404 Terminus J9B |
Reading Reading, Berkshire Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London.... , Maidenhead A4 Reading, Slough Slough Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London... , Windsor Windsor, Berkshire Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family.... (M4 M4 motorway The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea... ) A404(M) |
| Reading, Maidenhead A4 A4 road The A4 is a major road in England, portions of which are known as the Great West Road and Bath Road. It runs from London to Avonmouth, near Bristol. Historically the road was the main route from London to the west of England, and has formed the second main western artery from London, after... |
Start of Motorway | |
| Cox Green Cox Green, Berkshire Cox Green is a civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. The parish is bounded by the A4 road to the north, the A404 motorway to the northeast, the M4 motorway to the southeast and a rural boundary with White Waltham parish to the west... , White Waltham White Waltham White Waltham is a village and civil parish, west of Maidenhead, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire. It has a population of 2,875, and is the location of White Waltham Airfield.-Extent:... |
J9A | Cox Green, White Waltham |
| Start of Motorway High Wycombe High Wycombe High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town... , Henley Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead... , Maidenhead (West) Maidenhead Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:... A404(M) |
A308(M) M4 J8/9 |
Maidenhead A308(M) A308(M) motorway The A308 is a motorway in Berkshire, England. It is 0.6 miles long and is possibly England's shortest motorway , although the westbound carriageway of the A64 is shorter... South Wales South Wales South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of... , Reading M4(W) M4 motorway The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea... London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , Windsor Windsor, Berkshire Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family.... , Slough Slough Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London... M4(E) M4 motorway The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea... |
Information above gathered from Advanced Direction Signs April 2011