Fifteen Sections of Main Roads Next as Reading’s Biggest Ever Resurfacing Project Continues

READING'S biggest ever road resurfacing programme continues today with work starting on the next phase of main road improvements, which will see another 15 sections of major roads resurfaced over the next six weeks.

This is the continuation of a two-year programme in which 64 sections of major roads around Reading are being improved for residents this year alone.

The £4m major roads programme forms part of a wider £8m Reading Borough Council investment that also covers residential roads, including over 100 such roads surfaced between February and the end of April.

The Council’s commitment to improving highways has already 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
• Resurfacing of over 700 roads since 2019
• Completion of a 3-year, £9m investment in road improvements followed by the start of the current £8m investment
• The number of residential roads classified as in ‘good’ condition rise from 35% to 85%

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.

Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:

“We take our residents’ wishes very seriously, and we know that a good standard of roads is one of your top priorities – which makes it one of our top priorities too.

“Having followed a £9m road resurfacing investment with this latest £8m investment, which is making big strides in both main and residential road improvements, it is clear to see that we’re taking residents’ requests seriously on this and putting everything in to building a better road network for Reading.

“With over 100 residential roads being improved this spring along with these key major routes too, residents will see the difference we’re making very soon”.

The contract is being delivered by the Council’s contractor FM Conway as part of a rolling programme, with the schedule of works for the March and April phase outlined below:

1     Norcot Road (School Road to Sona Gardens) 03 March 2025 for 2 Days (8am-8pm)

2     Eldon Square (Full Extent) 05 March 2025 for 2 Days  (8am-8pm)

3     Eldon Road (Full Extent) 05 March 2025 for 2 Days (8am-8pm)

4     Shaw Road (Full Extent) 07 March 2025 for 1 Day  (8am-8pm)

5     Forbury Road (Vastern Road to Kenavon Drive) 10 March 2025 for 2 Nights  (7pm-1am)

6     Forbury Road (Kenavon Drive to Kings Road Southbound) 12 March 2025 for 1 Night  (7pm-1am)

7     Rose Kiln Lane (Boulton Road to River bridge) 13 March 2025 for 2 Nights  (7pm-1am)

8     Norcot Road (Broomfield Road to Oxford Road) 17 March 2025 for 5 Days  (8am-8pm)

9     Whitley Wood Lane (Whitley Wood Roundabout to Borough Boundary) 24 March 2025 for 4 Days  (8am-8pm)

10   B3270 (Junction Whitley Wood Lane for 250m West) 27 March 2025 for 2 Nights  (7pm-1am)

11   Whitley Wood Road (Whitley Wood Lane to Woodside Way) 31 March 2025 for 3 Days  (8am-8pm)

12   Whitley Wood Road (Whitley Wood Lane to Swallowfield Drive) 03 April 2025 for 2 Days  (8am-8pm)

13   Cockney Hill (Full Extent) 07 April 2025 for 10 Days  (8am-8pm)

14   Caversham Park Road (Littlestead Close to Bramber Mews) 14 April 2025 for 2 Days  (8am-8pm)

15   Caversham Park Road (Kiln Road to Birchwood Close) 16 April 2025 for 2 Days  (8am-8pm)