View in browser

Moving Around the Borough

Sparking curiosity at electric vehicle showcase

More than 400 people learned about switching to a greener motoring future at our free rEVolution event in Wokingham.

Local dealers exhibited the latest electric models by 10 brands on Elms Field, with experts ready to explain all aspects of buying, charging and maintaining an EV.

There were electric bike dealers, free Dr Bike checks and bike marking with Thames Valley Police, and Reading Buses had an electric double-decker on show.

Our My Journey Wokingham team were offering advice on sustainable travel and there was a fun children's activity trail with wildflower seeds given as prizes.

We organised the day in partnership with Wokingham Town Council, Reading Council and Lets Experience Electric.

It follows two successful EV events we held last year to support EV adoption, which is increasing as the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is being phased out.

We've also prepared an ambitious EV charging strategy to improve provision across the borough and meet this growing demand.

We're helping people to adopt electric vehicles alongside other greener and healthier forms of travel like walking, cycling and taking the bus, which have the added benefit of reducing congestion on our roads.

Above: a coarser road texture offers better grip for tyres, and retexturing can restore this to worn surfaces

Restoring life to smooth and worn-out roads

As part of our annual road and footway maintenance programme, we've announced provisional dates for a new method we're trialling.

Retexturing treatments are set to begin in August and continue into September at 30 locations across the borough.

This is where we blast a worn-down carriageway with high-pressure water or abrasive shot to make the surface rougher again, giving tyres more grip.

It's a quicker, more affordable alternative to a full resurfacing, and it emits up to 96 per cent less carbon because it uses no new materials. 

This allows us to invest our limited resources in resurfacing more heavily damaged roads, as they benefit the most from it.

Find out more about what's happening

Our resurfacing, surface dressing and footway sealing programmes are also ongoing, and all dates are available on our website.

Streets are closed to through traffic while work is under way, but we aim to maintain access to properties where it's safe.

If you have questions, talk to our representative on site or message us.

Don't forget that all our road and footway maintenance treatments are highly dependent on the weather and can be postponed at short notice. If your street's on our list, keep checking the timetable as the day approaches.

Town centre upgrade improved station access too

Our long-running regeneration of Wokingham town centre, which we’ve now completed, brought travel improvements alongside economic benefits.

We extensively improved roads and footways around the station, including a new one-way system on Shute End and new link from Station Approach to Reading Road.

This reduced conflict at the level crossing and simplified traffic flow, allowing quicker access to the station and Reading Road for motorists coming from Wellington Road. 

We also created a new purpose-built interchange with dedicated bus stops served by major local routes, a taxi rank and a drop-off and pick-up area. 

Pedestrian and cycle access was improved with better crossing points and links to existing cycle paths, a wider forecourt and better, sheltered cycle storage . 

At the same time, the car park was expanded to a multi-storey and Network Rail upgraded the station with an accessible footbridge and modern main building.

This is on top of the Market Place travel improvements, as we outlined last week.

Our works around the station were carried out by Balfour Beatty, our partners in our major new roads scheme, and partly funded by housing developers. This element of the regeneration was completed in 2014.

30mph streets? Leave the signage to us

We've had some complaints about 30mph stickers, which resemble official signs, being stuck on lampposts in some residential streets.

You must not do this as it causes a distraction and we have to remove them for safety reasons, which costs money and is difficult due to the strong adhesive used.

Where there are no signs, a speed limit of 30mph automatically applies to roads with streetlights less than 200 yards (183m) apart.

Drivers should already know this as it's in the Highway Code.

Unlike some speed limits, repeater signs can't legally be put up on streets where 30mph applies. Unauthorised signs can make the limit harder to enforce.

You can decorate your wheeled rubbish bin however you like, if you have one, but don't leave it blocking any public road or footway.

We're working to make our roads safer by reducing speed limits where appropriate, including our emerging Safer Streets initiative. Any changes are subject to extensive consultation before a final decision is made.

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.

A3290

Road closure, both directions (overnight)
Monday 13 to Thursday 16 July, 8pm to 6am

The road will be closed westbound and eastbound overnight, between Winnersh Triangle and Thames Valley Park, while we remove temporary traffic management.

Earley

Road closure - Beech Lane (overnight)
Thursday 16 to Wednesday 29 July, 7pm to 6am

The road will be closed overnight between Wilderness Road and Rushey Way while we resurface it.

Keeping up to date

• For planned and emergency roadworks, follow us on Facebook
• For roadworks near you, visit our interactive map or see our live listings
• 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