Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 18:33:03 on Fri, 13 Jul
2012, D A Stocks remarked:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18823897

The main M4 motorway link between central London and Heathrow Airport
has reopened in both directions.

Only for cars, not even vans up to 7.5 tons, it seems.

Spin is alive and well...

At least that puts it back to the situation that has prevailed for the
last few months. AIUI the repairs that have been going on since April
(I think) were intended to allow the weight limit to be removed in time
for the Olympics.

So the question is... have the repairs finished for now, and will there
still be a [very low] weight limit until after the Olympics (at which
point it'll close for yet more repairs).

Seems consistent with the earlier doubt about the ability to repair it
before next week, followed by the sudden opening, that someone moved the
goalposts and said "get it open *now* but only for cars".


According to the Evening Standard, it is open for vehicles up to 7.5
tonnes*. That will allow coaches but not LGVs (large goods vehicles).
So coaches carrying athletes should be fine, but LGVs carrying their
equipment will not.

Is it not the case that the various teams have their pre-Olympics
bases scattered all over southern England and the Midlands (I know
that the Jamaican team is based in Birmingham)?

If so, not all of the LGVs carrying equipment would need to use the
eastbound M4 into London.

*article he
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/m4-opens-to-bring-in-athletes-but-lorries-are-still-banned-7941175.html