Proposed changes to a major road in Reading are focused on improving journeys for bus passengers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Reading Borough Council is undertaking a review of the road network, as well as walking, cycling and driving in the town, part of its Local Transport Strategy 2040.
This contains a range of proposals for how the borough’s road network could change, which include making adaptations to Oxford Road.
The road currently has one traffic lane in each direction with wider points for vehicles to access side streets and make turns.
The council’s goals for Oxford Road are to improve air quality and improve journey times for bus passengers.
The strategy states that road space could be ‘reallocated’ to provide space for those walking and cycling.
It also states that the council wants to remove ‘excessive street furniture’ to make journeys easier for pedestrians and cyclists as well.
The council has identified that traffic issues in Oxford Road are exacerbated by freight vehicles using the road, and its highways team is exploring the potential of re-routing freight traffic onto more suitable routes.
For example, Portman Road runs parallel to Oxford Road to the north. Small freight deliveries could prove difficult as the streets between Oxford Road and Portman Road are narrow.
The council’s other aims for the road include a shift to more use of public transport and improving bus journey time reliability.
While there are no detailed plans for changes to the length of Oxford Road yet, some designs for improving bus services have been drawn up.
The council is currently consulting on its bus service improvement plan, which involves establishing two outbound bus lanes on separate stretches of the road:
Oxford Road – outbound bus lane between Zinzan Street and George Street
Changes would see the existing carriageway divided into space for all traffic and a bus lane being created between these junctions.
Oxford Road – outbound bus lane between Pangbourne Street and Norcot Junction
Changes would see a new outbound bus lane established alongside the existing traffic lane, running between the bus stop opposite Tidmarsh Street and the stop prior to the Reading Retail Park.
The deadline for comments on the addition of outbound bus lanes in Oxford Road closes on Thursday, December 7.
Meanwhile, proposed changes to Oxford Road which involve removing excessive street furniture, reallocating road space for walkers and cyclists and re-routing freight traffic forms part of the council’s Transport Strategy 2040.
The deadline for responses to this strategy closes on Monday, December 11.
