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Timings confirmed for roundabout works
As part of the South Wokingham Distributor Road project, we're going to be improving the junction of Finchampstead Road and Molly Millars Lane.
The main change will be to replace the existing mini-roundabout with a full-size roundabout to increase traffic capacity at the junction.
We're also making the area more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists by adding wider shared footways and cycleways, and improving the crossings.
This includes a new toucan crossing, which pedestrians and cyclists can use at the same time, at the northern exit nearest the railway bridge.
This scheme, known as Western Gateway, will involve some road closures and diversions - and we've set out the details in this newsletter.
You can see our diagrams showing what the new roundabout will look like, along with the remaining sections of the new road.
All businesses, including the Tesco superstore off Finchampstead Road, will be open as usual, with some diversions for access, while it's being built.
 Above: the grass verge on Molly Millars Lane (north) will be replaced by a wide shared footway and cycleway
How the works will be phased
Please note that all the timings below are subject to change.
Our partners at Balfour Beatty have done all they can to estimate how long they'll need, and taken steps like digging exploratory holes to map the location of buried utility pipes and cables.
However, with a project as complex as this, there can always be delays due to unforeseen circumstances. If work is held up for any reason, we'll let you know.
Early April to late July 2025 (some closures possible)
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You won't see much impact to start with, as this phase of works will mostly take place on land behind the blue hoardings, which the roundabout will expand onto.
Our partners at Balfour Beatty will be building the off-road parts of the new roundabout and diverting utility pipes and cables. This will not disrupt any utility supply to residents or businesses.
All roads will generally be open as usual, with the chance of overnight or weekend closures on Molly Millars Lane or Finchampstead Road (south of the junction).
There may be full closures over the weekends of 10/11 and 17/18 May, though this isn't finalised. We'll confirm further details as soon as we can.
Pedestrian access will remain open with temporary crossings.
End of July to early September 2025
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We're going to close Molly Millars Lane at the eastern end, with a diversion in place, for work on the new roundabout.
Traffic will flow northbound and southbound on Finchampstead Road as usual. Pedestrian access will remain, with some footpath diversions.
Early September to end of 2025 (or early 2026)
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We're going to close Finchampstead Road to the north of the junction, with a diversion in place, for work on the new roundabout.
Traffic will flow as usual between Molly Millars Lane and Finchampstead Road (south of the junction). Pedestrian access will remain, with some footpath diversions.
End of 2025 (or early 2026) to March 2026
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We're going to close Finchampstead Road at the southern exit of the junction, with a diversion in place, for work on the new roundabout.
Traffic will flow as usual between Molly Millars Lane and Finchampstead Road (north of the junction). Pedestrian access will remain, with some footpath diversions.
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At some point during this period, traffic will begin to use the new roundabout while the islands are completed but Finchampstead Road will remain closed to the south.
March 2026 (for about one week)
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From this point, works will almost be completed and the junction reopened. There will be about one final week of overnight closures for final surfacing and road markings.
Don't forget you can check our interactive map of all current and planned roadworks across the borough, which also shows diversion routes.
 Official diversions during the closures
When Molly Millars Lane is shut, cars and most other traffic will be redirected via:
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Eastbound - Barkham Road (B3349), Station Approach, Reading Road (A329), Station Road (A321), Wellington Road (A321) and Finchampstead Road (A321)
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Westbound - Finchampstead Road (A321), Wellington Road (A321), Station Approach, Reading Road (A329), Station Road (A321) and Barkham Road (B3349)
HGVs will be diverted along Barkham Road (B3349), Langley Common Road (B3349), Eversley Road (A327), Nine Mile Ride Extension, Nine Mile Ride and Finchampstead Road (B3016 and A321), or the other way round.
When Finchampstead Road is shut, all vehicles will be redirected via:
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Northbound - Finchampstead Road (B3016), Nine Mile Ride, Nine Mile Ride Extension, Eversley Road (A327), Langley Common Road (B3349), Barkham Road (B3349), Station Approach, Reading Road (A329), Station Road (A321) and Wellington Road (A321)
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Southbound - Wellington Road (A321), Station Approach, Reading Road (A329), Station Road (A321), Barkham Road (B3349), Langley Common Road (B3349), Eversley Road (A327), Nine Mile Ride Extension, Nine Mile Ride and Finchampstead Road (B3016)
 Above: the mini-roundabout at Molly Millars Lane will be replaced with a larger roundabout and other improvements
More capacity as demand increases
There won't be any changes to the railway bridge at this point, but the works will leave scope for this in future if the owner Network Rail agrees.
We considered it in the early planning stages, but it ultimately wasn't feasible for a range of financial and logistical reasons.
However, our modelling shows that the new roundabout will create more capacity at the junction, regardless of whether any work is carried out on the bridge later.
This will offset the impact of any additional traffic accessing the new road via the entrance off Finchampstead Road, near the Tesco supermarket.
We'll also be closing a section of Easthampstead Road, from just north of the level crossing to the Heathlands Road junction, from winter 2025.
We'll let you know more soon, along with any disruption caused by proposed improvements at the junction of Waterloo Road and Peacock Lane.
Help others to stay in the know!
- If you know someone who could be affected by these works, please feel free to forward this newsletter and encourage them to join our South Wokingham mailing list. It's free, and it takes just seconds to sign up.
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