SIX NEW bus lanes are to be created in Reading as part of an initiative to get more people out of their cars and on to public transport.
Reading Borough councillors approved the schemes earlier this month, with funding coming from a Bus Back Better initiative – the government awarded the council £26.3m. Improvements already launched include a fixed price bus ticket capping fares at a maximum of £3.50 per day, regardless of operator.
The lanes have been designed to speed up journeys into and out of town, and motorcyclists will be allowed to use the bus lanes for a trial period.
They are:
Oxford Road outbound – Zinzan Street to Bedford Road
Existing road space will be reconfigured to create an outbound bus lane, beginning at the existing bus stop.
This change received 117 supportive comments and 99 objections.
Work will start in February for completion in April.
London Road inbound – Liverpool Road to Cemetery Junction
The lefthand lane will be repurposed as a bus lane. Drivers will still be allowed to turn into St Bartholomew’s Road.
In the consultation, 85 comments supported it, with 122 objections.
Construction will take place in May.
Southampton Street inbound – Pell Street and The Oracle
The smallest of the changes, this will involve creating a 3.9m bus lane at The Oracle roundabout to create easier access for buses heading north into Bridge Street.
The change received 115 supportive comments and 89 objections.
Procurement of a contract for works will begin in April, for construction completion in September.
Oxford Road outbound – Pangbourne Street to Norcot junction
A turning lane for Grovelands Road will be converted into a bus lane, continuing to the turning for Reading Retail Park.
The lane will be created using existing road space, with one lane each being maintained for westbound and eastbound traffic.
The change received 122 supportive comments, with 91 being opposed.
Procurement will begin in June, for construction completion in November.
London Road inbound – Sidmouth Street to London Street
The stretch of London Road currently has three lanes, with two going towards and a third lane turning left into Silver Street.
Stretches of the road will be turned into a bus lane to allow for better turnings into Kendrick Road and then London Street.
Buses will be given priority so that they can turn right into London Street to get towards the town centre.
The existing traffic island would have to be modified to accommodate the bus turning.
These changes received the most opposition, with 134 objections and 77 supportive comments.
Procurement will begin in April, for construction completion this December.
Bath Road outbound – Circuit Lane to the westbound exit of Granville Road
For this project, the existing carriageway will be widened to create a bus lane between Circuit Lane and the westbound exit of Granville Road.
In the consultation, 122 comments were received in support with 84 objections.
Procurement will begin in July for construction completion in September 2025.
