 Motorway shuts for power line works this weekend
Dont' forget the M4 will be closed between junction 10 (Winnersh) and 11 (Three Mile Cross) from 9pm tomorrow (Friday 18 September) until 6am on Monday.
This applies both eastbound and westbound. Hatch Farm Way in Winnersh, which runs beside it, will also be closed from 6am on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday.
A diversion will run through Wokingham Borough and this is likely to affect a lot of journeys, so allow extra time if you've got plans.
The official route runs via the A329(M) and the B3270 Lower Earley Way, though you can use any alternative route that's safe and legal for your vehicle.
SSEN are running new high-voltage overhead wires across these roads to restore a connection after a pylon off Hatch Farm Way was damaged in February.
The incident, caused by a falling tree, forced emergency road closures while their crews removed the pylon and wires attached to it.
They've built a new pylon and need to connect it back to the grid, which can only be done safely when the road is closed - watch a video explaining more.
The teams need daylight to work safely, so they can't work overnight or postpone the works until later in the year when the days are shorter.
Most roadworks around Wokingham Borough are by utility firms and we're legally obliged to help them keep essential services running. Find out more about how we minimise disruption in our recent streetworks spotlight.
 Click or tap to enlarge this image
Working to reduce impact of water main works
Barkham Road is now while Thames Water continue their essential .
We know this is causing disruption and congestion, and we’re working closely with them to monitor progress, challenge the timescales and minimise the impact.
It's already hoped that the current phase (above), which started this week, will finish ahead of its original schedule after Thames Water committed extra resources to it.
They’ve now added extra measures like signs to discourage drivers from using unsuitable residential roads and width restriction warnings for Barkham Street.
They've made significant efforts to progress the scheme and have laid about 24m of pipe so far, after digging investigative holes to work around existing utilities.
We’re meeting them regularly and inspecting the site to review progress, discuss upcoming activities and address issues including compliance with their permit.
We’ll share further updates, including timescales for future phases to the west of Barkham Street, in this newsletter over the coming weeks and months.
Pupils at primary schools across Wokingham Borough are being encouraged to come up with their own road safety slogan for a competition organised by our maintenance partners at VolkerHighways. Enter before Friday 2 October.
 Cycle lane works moving to next phases
Our planned works on and around Culver Lane in Earley, above, as part of our Woodley to Reading active travel route, will be starting next week.
- We're going to close Wykeham Road in Reading, up to its junction with the western end of Culver Lane, from Monday (21 September) until Saturday 3 October. This is to install a new pedestrian priority crossing across Wykeham Road and a new zebra crossing on Palmer Park Avenue.
- From Saturday 3 October until Monday 16 November, we'll be closing Culver Lane between the junction of Wykeham Road and Palmerstone Road. This is to install a section of cycle track, with a shared-use path under the railway bridge, as well as side road crossings and a foot crossing over Culver Lane.
During the same closure, we'll be resurfacing the carriageway as part of our annual maintenance programme. This was going to be done separately, which would have caused more disruption, and we aim to minimise this wherever we can.
We'll do all we can to maintain access to properties and for pedestrians, though there may be restrictions beyond our control at times. Our on-site teams will be on hand to discuss any concerns and will do their best to help.
This phase follows the reopening of the southern end of Palmerstone Road, at the junction with Church Road, which is expected on Saturday evening (19 September).
 New crossings installed as part of earlier phases
We've also finished building a segregated cycle track along Woodlands Avenue, between Bulmershe School and leisure centre and Woodley precinct.
We refurbished the zebra crossing at the Crockhamwell Road junction earlier in the works, and have since added a new one on Fairwater Drive.
This replaces the uncontrolled foot crossing and island which was there before.
We're still liaising with SSEN, who need to remove the base of the lamppost that was removed near the entrance to Bulmershe Leisure Centre.
This remains fenced off for safety reasons. We apologise for the delay in fully opening this section and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible.
The Woodley to Reading active travel route is funded by the Government and is part our vision for borough-wide walking and cycling improvements, as part of our wider transport policies including support for sustainable travel.
 Green light for traffic signal upgrades
We'll soon be refurbishing traffic signals at three locations to bring them up to the latest standards, as part of our commitment to looking after the assets we own.
We'll be working at these locations on the following dates:
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Monday 5 to Wednesday 23 October - Junction of High Street, School Lane, and Church Street in Wargrave. There'll be temporary lights, which we'll control manually during the morning and evening weekday peaks
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Saturday 24 October to Friday 6 November - Duffield Road, between Highcliffe Close and Sonning Golf Club, Woodley. This will be closed at all times until 1 November, and then 9.30am to 2.30pm only until the works finish.
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Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November - B3270 and Whitley Wood Lane. There'll be lane closures on B3270 and the central reservation gap will be closed, with a diversion via Shinfield Roundabout or M4 interchange.
Whether you're looking to get into cycling or pick up some active travel advice from our My Journey Wokingham team, there's lots happening on their events page including cycle training for a range of ages.
 Upcoming roadworks, including maintenance
As part of our annual maintenance programme, we'll be working at several locations next week. The biggest impacts will be at:
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New Wokingham Road, Crowthorne - road closed between Dukes Ride and Edgcumbe Park Drive, 9.30am to 3pm on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September, while we resurface the road
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Blagrove Lane, Wokingham - road closed along its entire length, 9.30am to 3pm on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September, while we resurface the road
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Evendons Lane, Wokingham - road closed between Blagrove Lane and Edneys Hill, 9.30am to 3pm on Tuesday 22 September, for maintenance works ahead of surface dressing
You can see the full programme with dates on our website but please bear in mind that treatments are weather-dependent and can change at short notice.
We also think these works will have the most impact, but you can see a list of all upcoming works in your area or browse our interactive map.
Earley
Road closure - A3290, both directions
Tuesday 22 and Wed 23 September (10pm to 6am overnight)
The road will be closed eastbound and westbound between Suttons Seeds roundabout and Thames Valley Park Drive while Network Rail inspect a bridge.
Remenham / Wargrave
Temporary lights - Wargrave Road
Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 September
There'll be temporary two-way lights between the A4130 and Kentons Lane while CityFibre carry out fibre-optic installation works.
Temporary lights - Wargrave Road
Thursday 24 to Monday 28 September
There'll be temporary two-way lights between Kentons Lane and Wargrave Hill while CityFibre carry out fibre optic installation works.
Ruscombe
Road closure - Waltham Road
Sunday 27 and Monday 28 September (9pm to 5am overnight)
The road will be closed between Castle End Road and the borough boundary while Network Rail inspect a bridge.
Swallowfield
Road closure - Basingstoke Road
Monday 21 to Friday 25 September
The road will be closed while SGN carry out gas connection works.
Keeping up to date
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