A major section of the M4 motorway has been closed in both directions after an electricity pylon was severely damaged near Winnersh, forcing nearby residents from their homes and causing widespread disruption across the Wokingham and Reading area.
The incident occurred close to Junction 10 and Junction 11 when a tree struck a high-voltage electricity pylon, leaving the structure bent and potentially unstable.
Emergency Evacuations Underway
As a precaution, emergency services and engineers from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) evacuated homes closest to the damaged infrastructure.
Residents in:
- Eldon Way
- Eldon Close
- Hatch Farm Way
were asked to leave their properties while safety assessments and repair work continue.
Affected households have been temporarily accommodated in local hotels while engineers work to stabilise the site and reduce any risk posed by the compromised pylon.
Major Road Closures and Travel Disruption
The incident has led to significant transport disruption across the area.
The M4 remains closed in both directions between Junction 10 (Wokingham/Bracknell) and Junction 11 (Reading), with authorities warning motorists to avoid the area unless absolutely necessary.
Several surrounding local roads are also shut, including:
- Routes around Hatch Farm Way between Lower Earley Way and King Street
- Mill Lane in Shinfield
The closures have resulted in severe congestion on diversion routes, with traffic backing up towards Reading, Lower Earley, Shinfield, and Bracknell throughout the day.
Safety Work Continues
Electricity network engineers are currently assessing the structural safety of the damaged pylon before repair or replacement work can begin. Officials say closures will remain in place until the area is declared safe.
Emergency services have emphasised that the evacuations are purely precautionary but necessary given the risks associated with high-voltage infrastructure.
Advice for Residents and Drivers
Authorities are urging:
- Motorists to avoid non-essential travel near Winnersh and surrounding areas
- Residents to follow official updates and diversion signage
- Commuters to allow significantly longer journey times
Further updates are expected as engineers progress with stabilisation work and authorities review when roads — including the M4 — can safely reopen.
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