Wokingham Borough Connect
 Have your say on cycling and walking route
We're consulting once more on plans to improve the A329 Reading Road between Winnersh and Wokingham for cyclists and pedestrians.
This final survey is on the third and fourth phases between Mill Close and the western end of Broad Street, at the Rectory Road junction.
We consulted last year on the first two phases, which run from Sadler's Lane near the M4 overbridge at Winnersh to just east of the Woosehill roundabout.
The scheme includes a segregated cycle track along each side of the A329 with improved bus stops and side junctions, a 30mph speed limit and more.
There would also be improvements at the Station Approach and Station Road junctions and a short 20mph section between Biscoe Way and Broad Street.
Design work was funded by the Government and any building work would be funded externally. Find out more and share your views before Monday, 18 March.
Photo above shows a similar scheme in another part of the country
 Runners take to the streets this weekend
This Sunday (25 February) around 3,000 runners will take to the streets for Wokingham Borough’s biggest running event of the year.
Starting and finishing at Cantley Park, the main race starts at 10am, with plenty of places along the route to watch and cheer on the runners.
Young runners will also be taking part in the Wokingham Children's Mini-Mile starting shortly after at 10.15am at Cantley Park.
Road closures will be in place on the route, which will circle Wokingham town centre before going up towards Shurlock Row, round past Hurst and back down to Cantley Park.
Closures will be in place along the route from 8am and will be lifted in sections as all runners are through. It is expected that the full route will be open by 2pm. No parking will be available at Cantley Park or on surround routes due to the closures.
Good luck to all taking part!
 Network Rail to bridge the gap with 'tan-talising' delivery this weekend
The new Tan House footbridge is being delivered and installed by Network Rail this weekend.
The bridge will be a wide load, so some traffic lights and road signs will be temporarily removed to allow it to get through. It will come off the A329M, travel down London Road and through Wokingham town centre at around midnight tomorrow (Friday 23 February).
There will be some road closures around the station for the bridge to be delivered, unloaded and installed:
Station Road - from midnight on 23 February, throughout the 24 and 25 February until 4am on 26 February, you will not be able to use the ‘straight over’ lane
Wellington Road – from midday until midnight on 24 February, the lane towards the station will be closed from Elms Park. You will be able to turn left off Station Road on to Wellington Road
Barkham Road – from midnight on 23 February, throughout the 24 and 25 February until 4am on 26 February, the road will be closed from around the Nisa to the station
Oxford Road - from midnight on 23 February, throughout the 24 and 25 February until 4am on 26 February, the road will be closed from the station to Murray Road
Resident and visitor access
Access will be maintained for properties throughout, apart from small windows of time when equipment is being moved. The team on site will be able to help you, so please speak to them if you need any help.
For those accessing the closed stretch of Oxford Road, there is a total closure at the junction with Barkham Road, so you will need to either use Murray Road or come from the other end at Reading Road.
Wokingham Half Marathon
Wokingham Half Marathon is taking place this weekend, on Sunday 25 February. By this time, Wellington Road will have re-opened so we hope that it causes minimal disruption for residents and attendees.
More on the project
In December 2023, Network Rail started work to replace the Tan House footbridge, which crosses the rail line from the Carnival Hub on Wellington Road to the playing field next to the Latimer Road allotments.
So far they have removed the old bridge and done prep work on the grounds and surrounding area. This weekend the new bridge will be delivered and installed and then they will reinstate the surrounding groundworks and close down the site. They are on course to complete mid-March.
 Pupils say 'NO2 thanks' to air pollution
Six schools are taking part in the final year of our Wokingham Air Quality project, which has been running with DEFRA funding since 2020.
This aims to reduce air pollution around schools by promoting walking, wheeling and cycling instead of driving, which produces harmful emissions.
Pupils measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels around their school grounds using scientific equipment. This is a harmful, invisible gas that comes from exhaust fumes, especially when cars idle outside schools.
Seeing the levels for themselves has encouraged children to take steps to reduce them. Here's what pupils at Hawkedon Primary School in Lower Earley said...
- Hakan: "It was extremely fun, as we got to hold the monitors and call out how much NO2 it showed."
- Zoya: "I found it interesting that the amount of NO2 emissions decreased in different places."
- Salihu: "I enjoyed using the monitors and writing a letter to our local MP to ask what he was doing to manage air quality."
Also taking part are The Hawthorns Primary School, Westende Junior School, Evendons Primary School, Emmbrook Junior School and St Crispin's secondary school, all in Wokingham.
 Upcoming roadworks
Grazeley
Road Closure – Grazeley Green Road, Grazeley
Network Rail will be closing Grazeley Green Road between Goring Lane and Pump Lane from 29 February and 9pm to 5 am on 1 March to carry out a structure inspection.
https://one.network/?GB137265285
Wokingham
Multi-way lights – Northway Wokingham
These lights will be in place at the junction of Woosehill Spine Road on 26 to 28 February, 9.30am to 3.30pm, to locate and repair cable fault.
https://one.network/?GB137501980
2-way lights – Woosehill Wokingham
These lights will be in place between Heron Road and Northway on 28 February to 1 March, 9.30am to 3.30pm to locate and repair cable fault.
https://one.network/?GB137502814
Road Closure – Barkham Road, Wokingham
Network Rail will be closing Barkham Road at the Wokingham level crossing from 10pm on 1 March until 6am on 4 March to carry out level crossing maintenance.
https://one.network/?GB137536945
Woodley
Multi-way lights – Headley Road East Woodley
These lights will be in place at the junction of Loddon Bridge Road on 23 February, 9.30am to 4pm for carriageway repairs.
https://one.network/?GB137637644
2-way lights – The Bader Way Woodley
These lights will be in place North of A3290 on 28 February, 9.30am to 3.30pm to carry out highways repairs.
https://one.network/?GB137590228
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
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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.
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