 Above: signage at the entrance to a Balfour Beatty site off Easthampstead Road, south of the level crossing
Giving you the full picture of road building impact
Our major new roads team, and partners at Balfour Beatty, attended a drop-in meeting last month to talk about the South Wokingham Distributor Road.
We heard some helpful suggestions for how we could communicate about the project over the next few months, and we've taken these on board.
We know you'd like a simple round-up of all disruption that the works are likely to cause, especially road closures, from now until they're finished.
We're working on this, including some more simple diagrams, and we'll share these with you as soon as we've finalised some key dates.
For a full overview and history of the project, see our newly updated web pages or read previous newsletters linked at the bottom of this one.
 Above: a construction vehicle on the site of the new road, where a bridge will be built over the Emm Brook
What to expect - key dates and estimated timescales
The dates below are subject to change, as this is a complex project and there's always a risk of delays for reasons beyond our control.
All businesses, including the Tesco superstore on Finchampstead Road, will be open as usual throughout the project. Access will be maintained.
There's also disruption on public rights of way and other private routes:
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Now to July 2026 - Footpaths along the route of the new road temporarily closed. See below for in-depth explanation and timings
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Now to autumn 2025 - Ludgrove track temporarily shut at Easthampstead Road entrance. Alternative vehicle access off Heathlands Road
Balfour Beatty has permission to close Molly Millars Lane from Thursday, 17 July, but it may not actually close until the following week. We're hoping to confirm a date within the next week or so. In the meantime, you can look at the official diversion routes on our interactive roadworks map.
 Above: the location of the proposed Peacock Lane roundabout (click to enlarge)
Further improvements planned at borough boundary
As part of this project, we're also proposing to improve the junction of Peacock Lane and Waterloo Road (above) with a new roundabout.
This won't need road closures, but may need lane closures and temporary one-way restrictions on Waterloo Road, Old Wokingham Road and Peacock Lane.
We're still going through the planning process for this and we'll let you know more as soon as we're able to confirm dates and timings.
If someone you know has forwarded you this email, you can join our mailing list to get future updates straight to your inbox. And if you know someone who you think would benefit, why not tell them about this newsletter?
 Above: target reopening dates for footpaths off Finchampstead Road (click to enlarge and see further links below)
Footpath closures - an in-depth look with maps
All footpaths north of the Ludgrove track, between Finchampstead Road and Easthampstead Road, are now closed with diversions via surrounding streets.
The eastern end of the Ludgrove track is also closed until the autumn so that construction vehicles can cross it to dig a flood drainage pond.
There's alternative access off Heathlands Road for vehicles, and we'll soon be putting up 10mph signs on this temporary road to help keep people safe.
Another footpath between Easthampstead Road and Waterloo Road will be closed later on this year as works start on a new junction and link road.
For your safety and to stop anyone accidentally entering the site, we've put up locked fencing with notices at all the entrance points.
We're hoping to reopen all footpaths in stages by July 2026 - see our target dates for footpaths to the west of Easthampstead Road and to the east.
 Above: construction teams on the haul road, which crosses the footpath between Gipsy Lane and Ludgrove track
Why can't you just reopen the footpaths?
Many of you have contacted us to ask this, and we know it's frustrating for such a popular and extensive route through the countryside to be closed.
However, it isn't safe because the ground is now highly uneven as a result of the clearance works that took place earlier in the year.
Our haul road runs across these footpaths, and this will be busy with large, heavy construction vehicles travelling up and down.
On top of that, we'll soon be building a road bridge and separate accessible footbridge over the Emm Brook, requiring extensive digging and earthworks.
The whole area is going to be very busy and full of hazards, and we haven't yet identified a way to let people cross it safely.
We'd like to temporarily reopen the footpath between Gipsy Lane railway bridge and Ludgrove track this summer, but we can't guarantee this yet.
Earlier this year, Balfour Beatty worked with Wokingham Town Council and Wokingham In Bloom to relocate snowdrops that were growing on site. They've been replanted at green spaces and other public places across the town.
 Above: Balfour Beatty are committed to keeping everyone safe, including members of the public
What we've achieved and where we're heading
Since early this year, Balfour Beatty and their subcontractors have been carrying out site preparation works to allow main construction works to start this summer.
They've cleared vegetation and improved access to the site, along with initial earthworks and drainage measures to reduce any future flood risk.
This was overseen by an independent ecologist to minimise the impact on wildlife and ensure we met our legal obligations toward species like nesting birds.
Every effort was made to avoid felling where this was possible, and the scheme includes extensive replanting to make up for any habitat loss.
Later on, developers will fund the construction of nature parks to further improve biodiversity as part of the new community being built at South Wokingham.
 Above: the entrance to one of Balfour Beatty's works compounds off Easthampstead Road
All set for the next phase as main works approach
Balfour Beatty are also setting up temporary compounds on the site, one to the west of Easthampstead Road and another near Tesco off Finchampstead Road.
These are linked by a temporary haul road which is used by construction vehicles and to transport building materials across the site.
Hoardings have also been put up along the Tesco entrance road, with banners showing what the finished road will look like.
The works are being coordinated from Balfour Beatty's main compound off Waterloo Road, near the former level crossing at Clay Lane.
While building the road, they've helped us prepare a detailed management plan to keep potential impacts like dust, noise or vibration to a minimum.
If you have any concerns, please email the team and they'll be happy to discuss them further or answer any questions you may have.
Find out more from previous newsletters...
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