 Above: A drone image showing the work on Easthampstead Road (click to see diagram)
Reminder of the need for long-term closure
Easthampstead Road remains closed between Star Lane and to the north of Heathlands Road.
The closure applies to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
We appreciate the disruption and necessary diversion is frustrating, but it is essential to build the new three-way junction for the South Wokingham Distributor Road.
Construction in this area involves major engineering works, including excavations up to five metres deep. These works require heavy machinery, large work zones and strict safety controls.
As you can see from the photo above, it is not safe or practical to keep the route open.
We are co-ordinating works with multiple utility providers. Completing these activities at the same time reduces the need for repeated closures in the future and helps minimise overall disruption across the wider road network.
We are actively reviewing whether access could be opened ahead of schedule. If all works progress well and third-party utility works are completed, there may be an opportunity to do so, but this would not be until October at the earliest and would only be for pedestrians.
We appreciate your continued patience while this essential infrastructure is built safely.
You can watch a drone video on our Instagram channel to see the latest progress on the distributor road project.
 A new name for link road
Wokingham Without Parish Council has confirmed that the official name for the new link road, which opened at the end of May, will be White Horse Ride.
This was selected due to the proximity to The White Horse pub, which has a history stretching back to the 19th century.
This link road provides the best alternative route while we undertake the above works on Easthampstead Road.
The diversion route is:
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Northbound: White Horse Ride, William Heelas Way, London Road (A329) and Peach Street (A329)
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Southbound: Peach Street (A329), Broad Street (A329), Rectory Road (A329), Wiltshire Road (A329), London Road (A329), William Heelas Way, White Horse Ride
The link road will provide safe and direct access to the new homes being built to the south of the railway.
Remember, Easthampstead Road will be a cul-de-sac under the permanent road layout, with through traffic instead following the distributor road and link road.
Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to get through the cul-de-sac.
Footpath 5 (Heathlands Road to Waterloo Road roundabout) was temporarily open following our work at the junction of Easthampstead Road and Heathlands Road.
However, it has now been closed to allow developers to access their site.
With White Horse Ride now open, this provides an alternative route running in parallel to the closed footpath, with shared pedestrian and cycle facilities.
 Underground tunnels completed by our partners
Balfour Beatty have recently completed the installation of culverts on Easthampstead Road.
These are tunnels that allow water to flow under the road.
They used 21 concrete sections, each weighing up to 19 tonnes, and lifted them into place using a 250-tonne mobile crane.
The work was done in two stages. First, part of the structure was built next to the road so that water, gas, electricity and telecoms services could be moved.
Then, after the road was closed and the services were diverted, the rest of the digging and installation was finished.
 Above: Progress on the new roundabout to access Tesco (click to see a diagram of the road layout)
Progress being made on new roundabout for Tesco
The new roundabout that will provide access to Tesco in Wokingham is taking shape.
A new access road to Tesco is being built and the current one will be pedestrianised and landscaped.
The existing Tesco roundabout will remain and we are looking to join this up with the South Wokingham Distributor Road later this year.
Tesco and its car park remain open and accessible throughout the works.
Helpful links
You can see all disruption across the borough using our live roadworks map.
If you have any questions or want to report a problem related to this project, please email Balfour Beatty or call 0800 121 4444 during business hours.
Before getting in touch, please check that we haven’t already answered your question on our FAQs about how we’re building the road or how the finished layout will work.
Other helpful links include:
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