The next few months will be busy for Wokingham town centre, with roadworks on most of the major routes in and out creating pinch points at certain times of the day.
These roadworks are vital because once finished they will bring range of improvements to the town, and upgrade ageing utilities. The borough council has co-ordinated those schemes that cannot wait, and rescheduled others that can, to reduce as much as possible their effects on drivers and because the town is still open for business.
Drivers are therefore encouraged to plan their journeys in advance - consider different routes, staggered journey times or alternative modes of transport. If they cannot do this, then please allow more time.
The borough council’s My Journey team helps people to plan alternative transport. The My Journey Wokingham website offers people the chance to earn incentive points for charity donations or discounts in local shops. It also enables people to set up car shares.
The roadworks.org website gives live and detailed information about roadworks and their diversion routes so that travellers can plan their journeys in advance. People can also sign up to the council’s roadworks text and email alerts or visit the roadworks page on its website.
“We’re not going to pretend the town’s road network will be perfect during the next few months, but all of these roadworks are vital,” said Cllr Malcolm Richards, executive member for highways and transport.
“So if you can, plan your route in advance and allow extra time. The town is still very much open for business and needs your support.”
Jonathan Holley, from the Wokingham Town Business Association, agrees. "Roadworks are a real challenge for everyone in Wokingham, impacting journey times for road-users and affecting Wokingham businesses and shops if you decide not to come into town,” he said.
“We’re urging everyone to continue supporting your local shops and businesses during both the regeneration works, and the accompanying roadworks, because the town is very much open for business as usual. The shops and businesses in the town appreciate your patience and ingenuity while these essential roadworks are underway, which are creating a better Wokingham for the future."
The planned roadworks affecting Wokingham town centre in the next few months are:
SGN gas mains replaced in Gypsy Lane / Murdoch Road
- January 23 to February 20
- Gipsy Lane closed at its junction with Murdoch Road, although access will be maintained from Southlands Road. Four-way temporary lights will be at the junction of Murdoch Road, Easthampstead Road and Pages Croft
- Contact: SGN Gas (01252) 353 580 (office hours)/ 0800 912 1700 (evenings/weekends); visit SGN's website
SGN gas mains replaced in Easthampstead Road
- Dates: February 20 to March 12
- Easthampstead Road will be closed between Waterloo Road and Heathlands Road. Two-way temporary lights will be south of Murdoch Road at the junction of Waterloo Road
- Contact: SGN Gas (01252) 353 580 (office hours)/ 0800 912 1700 (evenings/weekends); visit SGN's website
Rose Street lane and footway restrictions as part of Town Centre Regeneration
- Phased from February 13 to September (2018)
- Occasional footway and lane restrictions between Broad Street and M&S car park
- Two-way vehicle access maintained throughout, with priority to traffic from Broad Street direction
- Demolition and construction of new entrances, services and buildings, to create new pedestrianised public square on the site of Rose Street car park, a range of new shops and restaurants with apartments, public toilets and four houses along Rose Street
- Contact: Wokingham Town Centre Regeneration (0118) 974 600 (office hours) or email: towncentre.regeneration@wokingham.gov.uk; visit The Regeneration Company website
Peach Street as part of town centre regeneration
- February 13 (2017) to March (2018) - footpath closed from the Redan to site of former Clintons
- February 27 (2017) to June 2 (2017) - Single lane closed on Peach Street from the Redan to site of former Clintons
- Luckley Path closed to traffic to create safer pedestrian route
- Demolition of vacant shops and buildings past the Redan up to and including former Clintons. This phase of the regeneration project will create new pedestrianised public square on the site of Rose Street car park, a range of new shops and restaurants with apartments, public toilets and four houses along Rose Street
- Contact: Wokingham Town Centre Regeneration (0118) 974 600 (office hours) or email: towncentre.regeneration@wokingham.gov.uk; visit The Regeneration Company's website
