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Traffic and Travel

Wokingham Borough Connect

Last week to have your say on cycling and walking route

Our survey on a new cycling and walking link from Wokingham town to Winnersh closes next week (21 December) so make sure to have your say while you still have time!

This is the second consultation about a proposed cycling and walking link from Wokingham town to Winnersh and focuses on the area between Emmbrook Road and Mill Close on the A329 Reading Road, which we hope will form part of a new 1.6-mile (2.5km) route along the main road. 

It’s one of many improvements outlined in our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and would be externally funded, with design work already paid for through the Government’s Active Travel Fund.

This second phase, incorporating Woosehill Spine Road junction, could include new toucan crossings to help you to cross the roundabout safely, either on foot or by bike, without having to use the subway.

If work goes ahead, the full route would run from Sadler’s Lane, near the M4 overbridge at Winnersh, to the western end of Broad Street in Wokingham.

It would have a segregated cycle track, separate from both the pavement and the road, and other safety features. Traffic would remain two-way but the speed limit would be reduced to 30mph.

Travelling by train or bus this Christmas

From Christmas Eve until 3 January, there will be some changes to the bus timetables, with no services on Christmas Day and Saturday or Sunday services running on other days.

For full information, please see Reading Buses and Thames Valley Buses websites.

Similarly, the trainlines will also have some amendments to timetables, with Saturday timetables, no services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and engineering work affecting some routes.

For full information please see the Network Rail webpages for Great Western Railway and South Western Railway.

Don't forget - bus travel is free within the borough every Saturday leading up to Christmas.

Park and Ride services 

Reading Buses have started a new hourly Sunday service, park and ride 650, between Mereoak Park and Ride, Green Park and Central Reading between 8am and 8pm.

The route will run from Mereoak Park and Ride, and stop at Green Park via South Oak Way for Costco and Lime Square, Longwater Avenue and then fast into Central Reading along the A33 bus lanes. Buses will return from town via the same route but in reverse.

You can find out about all of the park and ride services on offer on Reading Buses website.

Please note - timetable changes will come into effect on some of the Reading Bus routes in January.

Start date announced for California Cross works

Works to improve California Cross in Finchampstead will be starting mid-February 2024 and are expected to be completed in September 2024.

The improvements, which were funded by developers and chosen following public consultation, prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorists, as well as improve the look of the area.

The design features aspects which have successfully worked in many areas and have won awards. It includes:

• Additional crossing points raised to pavement level and with contrasting designs.
• Crossing points at right angles which those with impaired vision may prefer to use.
• Re-designed parking at Avery Corner to prioritise pedestrians and improve access to the school.
• Widened car park access and switch the parade car parking entry and exit.
• Cosmetic improvements including new streetlights, planting and bollards, and totems co-designed with Nine Mile Ride School and Gorse Ride School.

Two drop-ins have been arranged to meet the project team, find out more about the project and have any questions answered.

There is no need to book, just turn up. You can use the links below to add the sessions directly to your calendar.

Location: California Ratepayers Hall

Date: 19 December 2023

Afternoon: Midday to 2pm

Evening: 5pm to 7pm

Upcoming roadworks

Keeping up to date

• For planned and emergency roadworks, follow our Twitter and Facebook pages 
• To find out about roadworks near you, visit One.network
• For active and sustainable travel, including events, training and resources, visit MyJourney Wokingham 
• Visit our major new roads page for plans and updates
• For information on re-surfacing and reactive carriageway repairs visit our pothole and road repairs page 
• You can report any issues with roads and streets online, including street lights, problems with traffic lights, potholes, damaged street furniture, problems with road markings and removal of dead animals. 
• On our parking and permits page, you can find information including car parks and costs around the borough, resident parking permits, park and ride services and appealing a parking fine.
• Our transport and travel page includes information on applying for a senior citizen or disabled person's bus and train pass and local public transport information.
• The blue parking badges page has information on applying for, using, replacing and returning your blue badge.