The second and final phase of essential improvements to the Suttons Seeds Flyover (A3290) is due to start on March 26 to coincide with the school Easter break when roads are quieter.
To keep two lanes of moving traffic at all times, a contraflow will direct vehicles onto the southbound side of the flyover (existing Thames Valley Park) allowing engineers to work 24/7 on the northbound side (Thames Valley Park inbound).
Last Easter Wokingham Borough Council upgraded the opposite side – southbound – to minimise traffic disruption by splitting the scheme into two phases. As before, engineers this year will be replacing the flyover’s noisy joints on the opposite side, as well as improving drainage and giving the road a low noise surface.
This project, which is expected to last three to four weeks, will mean the bridge shouldn’t need significant maintenance for some time, and will also be quieter for nearby residents and motorists using it.
The four slip roads feeding the Suttons Roundabout, onto the A4 London Road below the flyover, will remain open throughout.
“This way of splitting the project into phases during school holidays and using contraflow to keep traffic moving both ways, mirrors is exactly what we did on the Loddon Viaduct project in summer 2014. It works really well plus there are fewer cars about because people are on holiday,” said Cllr John Kaiser, executive member for planning and highways.
“Incidentally, the second and final part of the Loddon Viaduct project is scheduled for this summer.
“The work we’re doing on Suttons Seeds is crucial. The waterproofing and joints are reaching the end of their design life on this bridge, and we were spending more and more time doing repairs. It was becoming a waste of public resources to simply keep patching it up.”
Wokingham Borough Council has been working closely with Thames Valley Park to help the businesses there consider alternative travel options during Easter such as car sharing, staggering working hours, and working from home.
Some 20,000 letters to surrounding residents and businesses have been sent out by the council.
The Suttons Flyover spans and provides access to the Suttons Roundabout (A4 London Road) below. It forms part of the A3290 in Earley and is the only route into the Thames Valley Park. It also connects to the A329M.
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