The
A404(M) is a
motorway in
Berkshire, England and can be referred to as the
Maidenhead and Marlow Bypass or M4/M40 link road. It joins the M4 with the A404 dual carriageway to High Wycombe,
Marlow and the M40. It was originally known as the A423(M) until the
A423 between Maidenhead and
Oxford was reclassified as the
A4130.
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
A308 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.
Junctions Information above gathered from Advanced Direction Signs April 2011 ==See also==