 Above: a diagram showing the pedestrian diversion route available from the end of October (click/tap to enlarge)
Helping pedestrians to get around ongoing works
A temporary pedestrian route is expected to open towards the end of next month, helping to bypass our work on Easthampstead Road.
The usual north-to-south route has been out of use since April, while a new junction is built for the South Wokingham Distributor Road project.
We're currently working towards Monday 26 October for the opening of a temporary solution, which will be less than half the distance of the existing diversion route.
As you can see from the diagram above, the intended route will utilise part of the distributor road, before joining up with the link road (White Horse Ride), which opened in May and has shared pedestrian and cycle facilities.
You can watch a video, which helps to show you the route in the diagram above.
 The above photo shows the latest progress on Easthampstead Road. This shows why it is currently unsafe and not possible to provide a more direct route for pedestrians.
While we appreciate this can add time to your journey, we're doing what we can to minimise disruption and keep everyone safe.
When to expect other routes to re-open
Several public footpaths across the South Wokingham Distributor Road project area have been temporarily closed while major construction, bridge and earthworks are carried out.
Below is an update on when we expect the affected routes to be open again:
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Footpath 25 (Finchampstead Road to Ludgrove Drive) - This is expected to reopen by the end of October, with the temporary route mentioned above also being planned via the Easthampstead Road level crossing.
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Footpath 10 (Gipsy Lane to Ludgrove Drive) - This will reopen later than originally anticipated following delays related to bridge construction, earthworks and more complex groundwater management works. We're now targeting early 2027.
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Footpaths 9 and 24 (Connecting over the Emm Brook) - These remain on track to reopen in early 2027.
Join us at Hatch Ride Primary School on Thursday 8 October for the next forum. We'll be there between 6.30pm and 8.30pm to answer questions, as will housing developers.
 Date for switch to new Tesco access road
A new access road for Tesco in Wokingham will soon open.
From Friday 30 October, visitors to the store, situated off Finchampstead Road, must use the new road shown in the photo above.
This allows access to the bottom end of the car park, with the new roundabout joining up with the South Wokingham Distributor Road.
As part of this work, the existing access road is being pedestrianised.
The new access road will have pedestrian facilities, which will eventually join up with Footpath 25 (Finchampstead Road to Ludgrove Drive).
The distributor road, which is due to open in the early part of next year, will include street lighting to support safe travel and will become a new part of the local landscape.
 Above: An aerial view of Holme Park (click/tap to view a diagram showing the locations of the four nature parks).
Nature park moves closer to completion
Progress continues to be made on one of the four nature parks coming to South Wokingham.
Earthworks to create the basin area have now been completed at Holme Park, the largest of four greenspaces being created as part of development in the area.
Seeding is due to begin shortly, while planting is planned for November and December.
You can read more about the location and progress on the nature parks in our recent newsletter.
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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