IDR Flyover Repairs Begin Next Month

WORK to repair damaged crash barriers on the IDR flyover following last month’s serious incident is programmed to begin week commencing July 8th.

One westbound lane of the flyover remains shut following the incident on Friday May 17th when a Parcel Force lorry crashed through the safety barrier and landed on the road below. A structural review is now complete. CD Fencing, a specialist vehicle restraint barrier company, has been commissioned to design and install replacement barriers. Over 30 meters will need to be replaced on the westbound lane and 12 metres on the east bound lane. Preparatory works took place last week to put in place additional protection for operatives and the new safety barriers are now in the process of being produced. Starting in the week commencing July 8th, the contractor will carry out repair works on the westbound lane during the daytime hours of 9.30am to 7.30pm. The diversion route for westbound traffic will be via London Street, Crown Street, Southampton Street and the on-slip road west back onto to Inner Distribution Road at Southampton Street Oracle Roundabout. This will allow east bound traffic to run uninterrupted during this phase of the works. Once the west bound lane works are complete, they will switch over to night time working between 7 pm and 1 am on the eastbound side. The diversion route for eastbound traffic will be via the IDR off- slip down to the Southampton Street Oracle roundabout and Mill Lane North to merge back onto IDR. Night works are required to reduce the impact on traffic that an eastbound daytime closure would have on the strategic road network. Working hours at night have been restricted to a maximum 1am due to the possible noise impact on residential properties and hotels in the area. Once works have begun, they are expected to be completed in two weeks, meaning the flyover will return to full capacity by Friday 19th July, or as soon as it is safe to open. Cllr Tony Page

Councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:

“It was a miracle that nobody was seriously injured or worse as a result of the lorry crashing through the safety barriers last month and landing on the road below. The incident has obviously caused considerable damage to the safety barriers, but I’m pleased that preparatory works have already begun and main repair works begin next month with a view to opening up the westbound IDR to full capacity a couple of weeks later. “I’d like to thank all road users for their patience whilst the essential safety repair works take place.”