Wokingham Borough Connect
 Speed limit reduction to support walking and cycling
We're set to reduce the speed limit to 30mph on several roads across the borough to make them safer.
At a meeting tomorrow afternoon, our executive member for active travel, transport and highways will decide proposals for 30mph limits on:
- parts of the A329 Reading Road in Wokingham town and Winnersh
- Hollow Lane in Shinfield
- the A327 Arborfield Road in Shinfield
- Bearwood Road in Barkham
- the A327 Reading Road, New Mill Lane and Park Lane in Finchampstead
We consulted on these changes and got lots of responses supporting them, and we agree that slower speeds will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
This is important as we want to do all we can to promote sustainable alternatives to driving, both for people's health and to address the climate emergency.
Other upcoming decisions include new stopping restrictions with double or single yellow lines on roads across the borough and "no stopping at school entrance" markings near Westende Junior School in Wokingham town.
Making best use of limited resources
As we explained in a recent newsletter, we receive a lot of requests for traffic management where people have long-term concerns about a road.
These are reported and handled separately from maintenance requests, which cover things like potholes or faulty street lighting.
However, it may be many months before we make a final decision, and while we base our decisions on safety alone we can't make changes in every case.
Before contacting us, please check our live list to see the reports we're currently dealing with, how they're progressing or the outcome.
Don't forget there are several road closures coming up across the borough this Bank Holiday weekend, including for the annual Wokingham May Fayre. Find out more in last week's Traffic and Travel newsletter.
 Above (click to enlarge): a diagram of the new road next to the development which it will support
Drop in and ask questions about new road
Construction of the South Wokingham Distributor Road is now under way, with main works due to finish in early 2027.
If you want to find out more about this new road, or the development it will support, we're holding a community forum at St Sebastian's Memorial Hall in Wokingham Without (Nine Mile Ride, RG40 3BA) on Thursday, 15 May.
It runs from 4.30pm until 7pm and it's an informal drop-in, so there's no need to book - just turn up on the day.
You'll be able to see the latest plans for South Wokingham, including the road, housing, green spaces and more, and ask questions.
Representatives from our road-building partners at Balfour Beatty will be attending, as will developers Miller, Kier and Kingacre.
A detailed look at the next steps
If you can't make the meeting, we took an in-depth look at the new development which the road will support in our latest South Wokingham newsletter.
As we build the road, there'll be closures at the junction of Finchampstead Road and Molly Millars Lane over two upcoming weekends and then from late July.
We'll be closing Easthampstead Road, from north of the level crossing to Heathlands Road, at some point in the winter. We'll share more about that soon.
We're also awaiting planning permission for improvements to the junction of Waterloo Road, and these will also require traffic management.
You can sign up to the mailing list to get future updates straight to your inbox.
Reading Buses, which runs many of the bus routes serving Wokingham Borough, is hosting an open day at its Reading depot on Sunday, 29 June. There'll be food stalls, games, buses on display and lots more attractions, as well as a free shuttle bus from the town centre.
 Pedalling means prizes in Bike Month challenge
Today's the first day of Bike Month - and we're working with Love to Ride to offer some great prizes to get everyone cycling more.
Whatever your level, anyone can set a simple and sustainable goal to stay motivated and ride more often - all journeys count, even small ones!
You can take part in the Bike Month Challenge throughout May by downloading the Love to Ride app for Apple or Android and creating a free account.
The app can log your rides automatically, or you can log them manually or sync them through another riding app.
Up for grabs for riding throughout May are:
- A £4,000 holiday - ride more to boost your chance of winning
- Encourage five people to enter the challenge and you could win £500
- Ride just five miles for the chance to win £500
- Complete five courses for the chance of a £500 Airbnb break
- Complete five transport rides for the chance of a £500 restaurant tab
- Rate five routes on the app and you could win £500
You can ride by yourself or with your cycling group, or sign up your workplace to ride up the leaderboard with your colleagues.
If you're taking the train over the Bank Holiday weekend, GWR services between Reading and London Paddington via Twyford may depart earlier in some cases. No disruption is expected on South Western Railway services, but it may be advisable to check shortly before you travel.
 Closures to keep roads in good condition
We're planning a series of road closures to help us carry out resurfacing as part of our ongoing highway maintenance programme. Find out more about how this could affect access while works are carried out.
Earley
Road closure - Mill Lane
Tuesday 6 May and Wednesday 7 May
The road will be closed on both days, with a diversion via Toseland Way, Rushey Way, Gipsy Lane, Meadow Road and the A329 Wokingham Road.
Grazeley
Road closure - Grazeley Green Road
Friday 9 May to Monday 12 May
The road will be closed throughout this period between Goring Lane and Pump Lane, with a diversion via Mortimer Road, Lambwood Hill, Bloomfieldhatch Lane, Goodboy's Lane, Riders Lane and Fuller's Lane.
Riseley
Road closure - Portway
Friday 9 May to Monday 12 May
The road will be closed throughout this period.
Winnersh
Road closure - Astor Close
Wednesday 7 May and Thursday 8 May
The road will be closed on both days.
Wokingham
Road closure - Binfield Road
Wednesday 7 May and Thursday 8 May
The road will be closed on both days between Carina Drive and the Oak Avenue roundabout. Diversion via Oak Avenue, the A329 London Road and Plough Lane.
Woodley
Road closure - Drovers Way
Thursday 8 May and Friday 9 May
The road will be closed on both days between Clivedale Road and Crockhamwell Road, with a diversion via Crockhamwell Road and Loddon Bridge Road.
 Other upcoming roadworks
Earley
Two-way lights - Meldreth Way
Tuesday 6 May to Thursday 8 May
There'll be two-way lights on Meldreth Way, south of Cutbush Lane roundabout, while SSE repair defects in the road and footway.
Wokingham
Two-way lights - Twyford Road
Tuesday 6 May to Friday 9 May (9.30am to 3.30pm daily)
There'll be two-way lights between Queens Road and the A329(M) overbridge while we prepare to carry out slurry seal works to improve the footway.
Keeping up to date
- For planned and emergency roadworks, follow us on Facebook
- To find out about roadworks near you, visit our interactive map
- For active and sustainable travel, visit MyJourney Wokingham
- Visit our major new roads page for plans and updates
- Find out more about re-surfacing and repairs including potholes
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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.
- Find out more about parking and permits including car park locations and costs, resident permits, park and ride services and appealing a parking fine
- Our transport and travel page includes applying for a senior citizen's or disabled person's bus and train pass, as well as public transport information
- The blue parking badges page has information on applying for, using, replacing and returning your blue badge
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