Preparations for the final phase to repair and improve the A3290/A329M Loddon Viaduct are due to start on 11 July, timed to avoid morning and evening rush hours.
The main work is due to start once schools have broken up for the holidays on the evening of Friday 22 July, and will last for up to six weeks.
This £1.1million Wokingham Borough Council scheme is a major project to replace the old and noisy bridge joints on the viaduct, install new permanent safety barriers, redo waterproofing, and resurface the carriageway.
Between 11 and 22 July there will be some short temporary lane closures during the day (weekdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm only) so engineers can prep the safety barrier and install a contraflow ready for the main works. This will help speed up the main work when it starts on 22 July, when the southern carriageway will be closed.
A contraflow on the northern carriageway will keep traffic on the viaduct moving in both directions 24/7 – one lane westbound towards Reading and another eastbound for Bracknell.
The westbound slip road onto the viaduct from Winnersh Triangle (toward Reading) will also be closed because it would normally funnel onto the southern carriageway. The diversion for this slip road will be west along A329 Wokingham Road, north along Church Road, north along Pitts Lane and southwest along A4 London Road.
Eastbound access onto the viaduct toward Bracknell, and the M4 along the slip road from Bader Way, will merge via a single lane with the contraflow traffic already on the viaduct, which may cause delays at peak times.
Westbound motorists from Bracknell or M4 wishing to exit at Winnersh Triangle will have a dedicated lane in advance of the contraflow to exit.
Temporary speed limits of 30 mph and 50 mph will be in force and an emergency breakdown service available within the contraflow and lane restriction sections.
The borough council repaired and upgraded the northern (eastbound towards Bracknell) carriageway of the viaduct two summers ago. Like then, work this year is being carried out during the school holidays when roads are traditionally quieter.
But if you use this route please still allow yourself more time, or preferably seek alternative routes. Remember the local road network will be busier because of this scheme.
"This work has to be done and will make the viaduct safer, quieter and easier to maintain," said Cllr Malcolm Richards, executive member for highways and transport.
"We're using the same traffic flow plans we used two years ago because it worked well. But we will still closely monitor traffic and will be working seven days a week to make sure we stay on schedule or even finish ahead of time."
Regular posts will be put on the council's Facebook and Twitter profiles and residents can also sign up to the council’s roadworks text and email alerts.
Find out more about this highways project and others on the interactive map on the council's website.
