 Gritters ramp up efforts as temperatures plunge
Our highways maintenance partners at Volker Highways have been out to grit the roads on 25 occasions since temperatures first dropped in November.
They've covered our primary routes every time - which make up 37 per cent of roads, totalling 170 miles, comprising major routes and roads linking to them.
Earlier this week, they also covered our secondary routes, comprising main routes to schools, bus routes and some residential and rural roads.
This comprises a further 13 per cent of our roads, or 60 miles in total.
That means they've covered at least 3,800 miles this winter - the equivalent of driving from Land's End to John O'Groats more than four times!
The team, based at our Toutley depot, get forecasts several times a day and try to grit preventatively, stopping any layers of ice from forming.
Where roads do freeze over, gritting can still help to melt snow and ice more quickly. Our five gritters can also be fitted with ploughs if it snows heavily.
One of our five gritters made an unexpected appearance in this video by Wokingham Aerial Photography while out on its rounds! Also, in case you missed it, the fleet now have funny names suggested by local children.
 Click or tap the image for a video of the bridge beams being installed
VIDEO: Beaming with joy as new bridge takes shape
The beams for a new bridge over the Emm Brook were lifted into place just before Christmas as part of the South Wokingham Distributor Road project.
You can watch our video of this major milestone.
Each 125-tonne steel girder was installed using a 500-tonne crane, forming part of the new road which will serve new homes that are coming to the area.
Our partners at Balfour Beatty will also be installing a separate footbridge over the Emm Brook. Eventually, surrounding footpaths will be resurfaced to make them suitable for year-round use.
The new road will have a shared footway and cycleway along its length, helping to promote sustainable travel, as with other major new roads in the borough.
It includes drainage measures to offset any increased risk of flooding, such as new trees and hedges, new ponds and underground drainage channels.
 Roundabout works progressing to final phase
We're expecting to reopen Finchampstead Road to the north of Molly Millars Lane, and then close it to the south of Molly Millars Lane, on Monday 26 January.
This is for the final few weeks of work on improving the roundabout at this junction, which will improve traffic capacity to support the new road.
There's also ongoing disruption on Easthampstead Road while we tie the new road in with existing ones, which will change how traffic flows in some cases.
Don't force others to wait by jumping red lights
We've had several complaints about temporary traffic lights that appear to be broken and stuck on a red signal on Easthampstead Road.
We've checked and can confirm they're working, but their internal timer is designed to reset for safety reasons if someone barges through on red.
You must stop when they're showing a red light, both to keep everyone safe and to avoid causing unnecessary delays for other people.
We're hoping the new road will be open by the end of this year, with all works completed by early 2027, as long as all goes to plan. Sign up for the project newsletter for detailed updates and to see how disruption could affect you.
 Closures coming for essential water pipe upgrades
Thames Water are closing part of Bearwood Road in Barkham, between Highlands Avenue and Barkham Road, from Monday 9 February until late September.
They're carrying out essential upgrades to water pipes in the area, ensuring they're able to serve new housing at the former Arborfield Garrison.
There'll be a diversion via Barkham Road, Langley Common Road, Eversley Road, Sindlesham Road and Mole Road.
Access will be maintained to properties between the closure points and Thames Water will share updates through on-site teams and a noticeboard.
Once this finishes, they'll be closing part of Barkham Road, to the west of Bearwood Road, for the next phase of works moving towards Arborfield film studios.
We'll confirm the dates and details of the diversion as soon as we can.
 Sewer repairs and mains replacement progressing
We've tried to postpone works in this area where possible to minimise disruption while Thames Water have closed Evendons Lane in Wokingham to repair a sewer.
This has taken longer than usual due to unstable ground, which required Thames Water to bring specialists in. They're hoping to finish by the end of next month.
Meanwhile, as we reported just before Christmas, works are now underway to replace an aging water main on the A4 Bath Road.
This will require temporary traffic lights on various sections between Linden Hill Lane and Canhurst Lane from now until late September.
Solar farm investigation works still on hold
At some point, Scottish and Southern Energy need to carry out investigative works on Blagrove Lane and Edneys Hill as part of our Barkham solar farm scheme.
We've also postponed these to reduce disruption. We previously announced they would happen in March, but we may now decide to postpone them further.
We coordinate all works applications to keep delays to a minimum, but we're legally required to help utility firms to guarantee a supply to residents and businesses.
Following queries from you, we've updated our webpage on paying for your parking in the borough, whether on site or by phone. This now makes several things clearer, including how to pay for combined day and night charges.
 Train use still increasing across borough
The number of passengers using trains in Wokingham Borough has once again increased by about 10 per cent, according to official estimates.
There were 4.79 million entries and exits at our stations in the 2024/5 financial year, up from 4.35 million in 2023/4.
The latest figures for each station, which are all increasing year on year, are:
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Twyford - 1,754,790
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Wokingham - 1,902,086
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Earley - 425,632
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Winnersh - 384,120
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Winnersh Triangle - 217,550
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Wargrave - 110,690
For the first time this year, passenger numbers at Twyford and Wargrave were comfortably above pre-pandemic levels.
And despite changes in working patterns, train usage across the borough is approaching its pre-pandemic peak of 5.4 million entries and exits (2019/20).
Train companies are doing their best to ensure the winter weather doesn't affect journeys, but you can check for disruption on National Rail's website.
 Upcoming roadworks
We think these works will be the most disruptive, but you can see a list of all upcoming works in your area or browse our interactive map.
Twyford
Multi-way lights - Hurst Road
Monday 12 to Friday 16 January
There'll be temporary traffic lights at the junction with Wellington Close while SSE install a new power connection to a property.
Earley
Multi-way lights - Church Road
Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 January (9.30am to 4pm daily)
There'll be temporary traffic lights in the daytime at the junction with Palmerstone Road while Virgin Media carry out fibre optic works.
Wokingham
Road closure - Rose Street
Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 January (overnight, 7.30pm to 6am)
The road will be closed overnight near the junction with Wiltshire Road while South East Water reinstate a footway following works.
Wargrave
Road closure - A321 Wargrave Road
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January (8am to 6pm daily)
The road will be closed with a diversion between Wargrave Hill and the A4130 White Hill while Beechwood Tree Care fell two dangerous trees.
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 My Journey Wokingham
- Visit our major new roads page for plans and updates
- Find out more about resurfacing 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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