View in browser

Traffic and Travel

Wokingham Borough Connect

Millions invested to help you get round the borough

We raised more than £34.8 million from developers towards community infrastructure in the 2022/23 financial year.

The sum, secured through legal agreements and statutory contributions linked to planning permissions we awarded, will fund amenities like schools, bus services and leisure facilities without piling pressure on our own limited finances.

As with all councils, we can only spend developers’ contributions on infrastructure and not the running cost of services you may use, like social care, maintaining roads or collecting waste.

Over the same period, we invested more than £31 million from this pot in making the borough a better place to live and work, with a significant proportion going towards projects which help you move round the borough, including:

• Nine Mile Ride Extension, connecting the existing A327 Eversley Road in the north with the Nine Mile Ride/ Park Lane junction in the south
• Start of the California Cross project, designed to improve the highway and enhance the public realm, creating a more appealing environment for our local community
• Finishing construction on the North Wokingham Distributor Road
• Redesign of the Winnersh Triangle Park and Ride
• Investing in bus services including Mereoak p&r 600, Leopard 3 and route 19 run by Reading Buses and the 154 line run by Horseman Coaches

As well as developers completing agreed works to:

• Widen the foot/cycleway on Twyford Road
• Enlarge the Hollow Lane roundabout and upgrade footways, drainage, and street lighting
• Create a new entrance to the development on Hyde End Road

Find out more about how money is allocated and used on our news site.

Reminder:

Works at California Cross will start soon. You can sign up to our newsletter, launching next week, for the latest project updates and diversion information.

Photo courtesy of Network Rail

Star Lane Crossing to close from tomorrow

Network Rail's closure of the Star Lane level crossing (Easthampstead Road) will start tomorrow night (2 February) from 10pm, with the crossing being closed until 4am on 19 February.

These closures are to allow Network Rail to carry out the final stages of their re-signalling programme, which will see new equipment and a renewed track installed.

Level crossing closures

• Wokingham Station - closure planned from 10pm on 26 January to 4am on 19 February
• Star Lane - closure planned from 10pm on 2 February to 4am on 19 February 

Diversion routes will be clearly signed and can be seen by visiting the links above.

Access will remain at all time for pedestrians and other non-motor vehicles. Wokingham Station will have 24 hour access to the footbridge and lift, while Network Rail will be operating a shuttle bus at Star Lane.

Rail replacement

Rail replacement buses will be in place from 11 February to 18 February.

National Rail recommend using their journey planner to find out the best way to travel during these times.

Industrial action continues over the weekend and into next week. To check if your journey is affected please visit the National Rail website.

How to report a pothole or issue with a road

Did you know you can report problems, such as potholes, damaged street lights or even an obstruction in the road online?

Our interactive map lets you zoom in and pinpoint where the issue is, and allows you to upload photos as well as include your contact information if you want to get updates on your report.

You can also see and sign up for updates on reports others have made.

This is the quickest way for us to pinpoint the location and nature of the issue and for our teams to get out and assess what works may need to be done and how quickly.

Upcoming roadworks

Arborfield

Urgent road closure – traffic island works

The roads below will be closed to replace and repair damaged traffic islands and posts in safety. Only one road will be closed at a time.

Reading Road, Arborfield between its junctions with A327 Observer Way and Swallowfield Road from 5 to 6 February from 9.30am to 4pm.

https://one.network/?GB137358547

Swallowfield Road, Arborfield between its junctions with Reading Road and A327 Observer Way from 6 to 7 February.

https://one.network/?GB137358497

B3030 Eversley Road, Arborfield between its junctions with Swallowfield Road and B3349 Eversley Road from 7 to 8 February from 9.30am to 4pm. https://one.network/?GB137358460

Earley

Multi-way lights – Culver Lane

These lights will be in place between Anderson Avenue and Wykeham Road, on 5 February, 9.30am to 3.30pm. This is to install a new electrical supply to bridge lights. https://one.network/?GB137205296

Finchampstead

Two-way lights – B3430 Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead

The lights will be in place between Johnson Drive and Range Road from 5 to 7 February. This is to allow SGN to lay a new service.

https://one.network/?GB137204918

Wokingham

Multi-way lights – Warren House Road

These lights will be in place at its junction with Bell Foundry Lane, on 5 February 9.30am to 3.30pm. This is to carry out carriageway patching.

https://one.network/?GB137339881

Woodley

Road Closure – Duffield Road  

This closure will be in place between Copse Mead and Pound Lane, from 5 to 6 February, 7pm to 7am. This is to allow T-Mobile (UK) Ltd to carry out telecomms maintenance.   https://one.network/?GB136566497

Multi-way lights – Reading Road

These lights will be in place between Wroxham Road and Elmwood Close, from 5 to 9 February. This is to allow BT to carry out telecomms installation.

https://one.network/?GB136904568

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.