READING Borough Council is set to move ahead with the next phase of its major roads resurfacing program next week.
From Tuesday, May 27, the council will set about resurfacing fifteen more major roads in over a six week period, following fifteen which were completed earlier this year.
The work forms part of a two-year programme which will see 64 sections of major roads around Reading being improved for residents this year.
The sections of road being improved will see closures to ensure work can be carried out quickly and safely, and a temporary ‘no waiting at any time traffic order’ will be in place to prevent parking on the road while the works are being undertaken.
Residents and businesses directly affected will see advance notices put out alerting them to the work, along with on-street closure notices and resident letters being posted through doors.
Residents will need to follow the signed diversions but will be provided with access on an individual basis when it is safe to do so throughout the process. Additionally, bus diversions will be in place.
Northumberland Avenue (from Newcastle Road to Christchurch Gardens) will be resurfaced starting Monday, May 27 for four days, between 8am and 5pm.
Honey End Lane (remedial work only) and Whitley Wood Lane (remedial work only) will both be resurfaced on Tuesday, May 28 for one day, between 8am and 5pm.
Caversham Park Road (from Kingsway to Caversham Park Primary School) will be resurfaced starting Wednesday, May 29 for two days, between 8am and 5pm.
Coley Avenue (full length) will be resurfaced starting Sunday, June 2 for two days, between 8am and 5pm. Queens Road (from Sidmouth Street to Watlington Street) will be resurfaced starting Tuesday, June 4 for three nights, between 7pm and 1am.
Bath Road (from Burrcroft Road to lamp column 3410) will be resurfaced starting Monday, June 10 for four nights, between 7pm and 1am.
Donkin Hill (full length) will be resurfaced starting Sunday, June 16 for two days, between 8am and 5pm.
Briants Avenue (full length) will be resurfaced starting Tuesday, June 18 for two days, between 8am and 5pm.
Cavendish Road (full length) will be resurfaced on Thursday, June 20 for one day, between 8am and 5pm.
Silver Street/Mount Pleasant (full length) will be resurfaced starting Sunday, June 23 for two days, between 8am and 5pm.
Southampton Street (from Upper Crown Street to Whitley Street) will be resurfaced on Tuesday, June 25 for one day, between 8am and 5pm.
Peppard Road (from Yarnton Close to borough boundary) will be resurfaced starting Wednesday, June 26 for two days, between 8am and 5pm.
Caversham Road (from railway bridge to Tudor Road) will be resurfaced starting Sunday, June 30 for two nights, between 7pm and 1am.
Finally, Berkeley Avenue (from St Saviours Road to Pell Street) will be resurfaced starting Tuesday, July 2 for three nights, between 7pm and 1am.
Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:
“I hope residents are as pleased as we are to see the momentum continuing with our road improvements in Reading. With the Council’s substantial investment in both major and residential roads, these improvements are being made to benefit all of Reading’s residents, who have asked us to prioritise road improvements.
“We recognise that at times there are frustrations with road closures, but we ask everyone to bear with us as we do our best to get these improvements made as quickly and efficiently as possible. I do hope and trust that residents are noticing the difference and are pleased with the results”.
The £4m major roads programme forms part of a wider £8m Reading Borough Council investment that also covers smaller residential roads, 100 of which were surfaced back from February to the end of April.
The number of residential roads officially classified as in ‘good’ condition has risen from 35% to 85%, and a 3-year, £9m investment in road improvements followed by the start of the current £8m investment was already completed.
It has also led to a 39% reduction in the number of pothole reports from the public, from 1,913 in 2021/22 to 1,168 in 2023/24.
