Significant traffic delays into Reading expected due to six-week SGN road closure

Road users are being warned of delays to their journeys due to a key route into Reading being closed while works are carried out by gas distribution company SGN.

A section of Church Road, Earley, in Wokingham borough, will be closed for six weeks from Monday 17 February while SGN carry out major works to replace old metal gas pipes with a plastic design.

A similar closure of Church Road last year had a significant impact on traffic congestion on other routes into east Reading, particularly on the London Road between the A3290 and Cemetery Junction, and on Wokingham Road.

The road will be closed between its junctions with Woodlands Avenue and Culver Lane.

A signed diversion will be in place via B3350 Pitts Lane, A4 London Road, Reading Road, Headley Road, Loddon Bridge Road, Crockhamwell Road and Woodlands Avenue.

Engineers are already on site and temporary three-way traffic lights are currently in operation at the junctions of Eastcourt Avenue and Palmerstone Road, Earley.

Church Road is a well-used route for traffic travelling into east Reading from outside the borough and the six-week closure due to the SGN works is likely to have a significant impact on traffic, particularly during peak times.

Road users are warned to expect delays and to use alternative routes into Reading, avoiding peak times if possible.

Cllr John Ennis, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“While just outside of the borough boundary into Wokingham, this six-week closure by SGN is likely to have a significant impact in east Reading, and particularly along the London Road during peak time hours.

“We know that when the new London Road bus lane was first introduced in the summer, the first few weeks were particularly congested as the previous closure of Church Road coincided with the bus lane going live.

“We understand that the replacement of gas pipes by SGN are essential works but we are advising all road users to build some additional time into their journeys over the next six weeks, as the impact along the London Road and into east Reading will likely be significant once again, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours.”

More details can be found on the SGN website: https://sgn.co.uk/our-gas-works/major-planned-projects/earley-church-road.

Any queries about the works should be addressed to SGN by email: customer@sgn.co.uk or phone: 0800 912 1700.

Wokingham Borough Council is the relevant highway authority where the works are taking place.