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Moving Around the Borough

What's happening on our roads right now

We'll be making some announcements next week, once we've finalised the details for our decision-making councillors to consider, so watch this space.

Until then, there are some ongoing works to plan your journey around. We've rounded the main ones up, but you can see all works on our website and interactive map.

We're also launching our annual road and footway maintenance programme, and you can read about that in our recent spotlight.

This is where we carry out various treatments, from full resurfacing to more cost-effective alternatives, to keep our network in good condition.

Our teams are patching damaged spots in some areas they're going to treat, with most main treatments starting from next month onwards.

Check our listings to see if we're working in your street, and when.

Above: access is temporarily closed at Star Lane level crossing in Wokingham

Ongoing closure as we work on new distributor road

While we build the main central section of the South Wokingham Distributor Road, part of Easthampstead Road remains closed and diverted.

The closure is between Star Lane and just north of Heathlands Road, including the level crossing, and applies to pedestrians and cyclists too.

This is while our partners at Balfour Beatty build a new junction where the new road crosses Easthampstead Road to the south of the railway line.

When it reopens, there'll be permanent changes including part of Easthampstead Road becoming a cul-de-sac and all through traffic using a new link road.

The link road is set to open by 6pm on Friday 29 May, joining Easthampstead Road and Waterloo Road, with the main distributor road due to finish by early 2027.

Until then, you can get to Holme Grange Craft Village via the southern end of either Heathlands Road or Easthampstead Road. Parking is free.

Above: the new roundabout on Finchampstead Road in Wokingham

All works for roundabout improvements completed

Following last weekend's overnight closures, we've finished improving the junction of Finchampstead Road and Molly Millars Lane in Wokingham.

These works are to improve traffic capacity before the distributor road opens, ensuring that additional housing doesn't put extra strain on the network.

They include a new full-size roundabout and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, with new crossings and sections of widened shared-use path.

We're monitoring the new traffic lights and will revise the signal timings if this is needed to help traffic flow better.

There'll be further disruption at the roundabout to the north, near Tesco, when we join the new road to the existing network over the summer.

We expect this to happen around August and we'll update you as soon as we can.

Water main upgrades to meet growing demand

A section of Bearwood Road is closed while Thames Water upgrade the water mains serving the Arborfield and Barkham areas.

These works are vital as existing pipes were at capacity and could eventually have burst, which would have required an emergency closure anyway.

We consider the impact before permitting works and try to coordinate them, but we have a legal duty to let companies maintain the utilities we all rely on.

These works should mostly finish in mid-summer, with occasional overnight closures in September to test the pipework.

A closure will be needed for the next phase of works on Barkham Road, to the west of Bearwood Road, once the 24/7 closure on Bearwood Road ends.

Again, we'll let you know more as soon as we can.

New active travel route pedals towards next stages

As we reported last week, Woodlands Avenue in Woodley remains closed between Woodwaye and Howth Drive while we work on a new active travel route from Woodley precinct to Palmer Park in Reading.

We're still expecting the closure to shift further west on Thursday 28 May, with further closures on Woodlands Avenue, Church Road and Culver Lane to follow. Keep watching this newsletter for updates.

Image: SGN

Gas pipe upgrades at Crowthorne nearing completion

SGN have closed Lower Wokingham Road in Crowthorne as part of a nationwide upgrade of their gas pipes.

These works were scheduled to run until Friday 26 June, but they're coming to the final phases now and should be finished much sooner.

Next week is Walk to School Week - but active travel is also great for commuting, shopping, social trips and more! Get some tips and route maps, or find out about local events, from our My Journey Wokingham team.

Changing lives with disabled bus passes

In 2024, we removed all time restrictions on disabled bus passes to offer more flexibility and promote independence for everyone.

This was in response to conversations as part of our Social Care Future initiative, and since then we've heard about the huge difference this has made:

• Lorna commutes to hospitals and trains staff on supporting for people with learning disabilities and autism
• Ben travels to his weekly volunteering slot at CLASP's coffee shop, where he learns new skills and meets his friends
• Dean no longer feels isolated as he can get to commitments like CLASP sports sessions and art classes on time
• Callum has spoken in Westminster about the value of concessionary travel, and called for an end to time limits nationwide

In most of England, disabled people only get free bus travel between 9.30am and 11pm. About one in four local authorities offer this at all times.

Since changing our rules, we've seen 23 per cent more applications for concessionary passes, a 16 per cent increase in concessionary trips and 10 per cent of trips taking place before 9am.

We also offer concessionary bus travel to residents who have reached the State Pension age. Find out more about how they work and how to apply.

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.

Barkham

Temporary lights - Barkham Ride
Tuesday 19 May to Thursday 28 May

There'll be two-way lights at the entrance to Rooks Nest car park while Cityfibre carry out fibre optic works.

Earley

Temporary lights - Lower Earley Way
Monday 18 May

There'll be two-way lights between Hatch Farm Way and Rushey Way while we carry out maintenance and repair works.

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
• 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