New pedestrian and cycle bridge to be installed on A33 Relief Road

ANOTHER key piece of infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in Reading will be moved into position this week as part of a major milestone of the South Reading Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme.

A new 53 tonne pedestrian and cycle bridge – 47 metres long and 5 metres wide - will be lifted into position and installed over the River Kennet, with essential resurfacing work also being carried out.

The works will require the overnight closure of the A33 Relief Road in south Reading over two consecutive weekends.

Principal contractors GRAHAM will be lifting and installing the new bridge this weekend and further work will be taking place the following weekend.

The bridge will be transported to the site in two sections where they will be offloaded on to temporary supports and bolted together. Two cranes will then lift the structure into place.

This will require the closure of the A33 between Bennet Road and the IDR (A329) on:

• Saturday 23 November from 6pm to 9am Sunday 24 November
• Saturday 30 November from 6pm to 9am Sunday 1 December

A signed diversion will be in place via Bennet Road, Basingstoke Road, Southampton Street/Whitley Street and the IDR during the closures.

Phase five of the South Reading BRT, which has been in progress since March, will allow buses on the A33 to avoid current traffic pinch points and further improve services to Kennet Island, Green Park and Mereoak Park and Ride, without taking away any space from general traffic.

The scheme will provide improvements around the Rose Kiln Lane (North) junction, with new bus lanes to the north and south to link with existing bus lanes, and additional bus stops to provide improved public transport access to Reading Link Retail Park and other nearby businesses. It is due for completion by spring 2025.

Councillor John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“The installation of this new pedestrian and cycle bridge is an exciting milestone in the fifth phase of the South Reading Bus Rapid Transit scheme.

“The new bridge will provide cyclists and pedestrians with better infrastructure and create space for an extended bus lane without taking away any carriageway from general traffic.

“Overall, this project will provide even quicker and more reliable journeys for bus passengers travelling between south Reading and the town centre. And it will improve access to shops and businesses which were previously hard to reach by public transport.

“The work will inevitably cause some disruption and I would like to thank road users for their patience.”

The latest phase of the South Reading BRT is part of Reading’s Bus Service Improvement Plan which attracted £26m funding from the Department for Transport. It links with previous bus priority schemes installed on the A33 in recent years to provide fast and reliable journeys for park and ride and other bus services.

The scheme supports the Council’s aims of encouraging the use of public transport, cycling and walking to help reduce congestion, improve air quality and benefit the health and wellbeing of Reading residents.