Notice

M4 Smart Motorway construction: river closure notice

Updated 27 May 2020

This notice was withdrawn on

River restriction no longer in force.

When

Friday 29 May 8pm to 6am Monday 1 June 2020.

Friday 5 June 8pm to 6am Monday 8 June 2020.

Where

Boveney reach, between Bray Lock and Monkey Island.

Details

The River Thames in Boveney reach will be closed to all traffic between Bray Lock and Monkey Island between 8pm Friday 29 May and 6am Monday 1 June 2020 and 8pm Friday 5 June and 6am Monday 8 June 2020.

Navigation is closed for health and safety reasons during daylight hours due to the lifting of motorway sections over the river for the construction of the M4 smart motorway.

Bray Lock will be closed during this period due to its proximity to the works.

Those in charge of all boats must observe any directions given by our Waterways Officers.

Bathing or swimming is not allowed in the river between Bray Lock and Windsor Racecourse Marina.

Dates are subject to change due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Further updated information will be distributed if required.

We apologise for any inconvenience this closure causes.

Byelaws

Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 and the UK Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as may be relevant. Particular attention should be paid to byelaws 24-42 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993, Steering Sailing and Speed.

And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 that:

The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.

The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000.

Read our Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993