Work on new bus lane to start next week

Work to start the construction of a new bus lane in London Road (Sidmouth Street to London Street) is due to start next week.

The initial work will involve the realignment of the kerb opposite the junction of Sidmouth Street and require a temporary lane closure.

The new bus lane is part of a wider package of measures to make public transport journeys across Reading quicker and more reliable.

The scheme will see the repurposing of the existing left-turn general traffic lane on to Silver Street into a bus lane which will link to the existing northbound bus lane on London Street.

Work starting on London Road from Monday 2 November will involve the removal of the build out directly opposite the Sidmouth Street junction which will require a temporary lane closure between Sidmouth Street and Kendrick Road until mid-November.

The main part of the bus lane construction will recommence early in the new year and will require the temporary closure of the Kendrick Road junction to allow works to take place.

That phase is expected to take around six to nine weeks, but the work will be phased to re-open Kendrick Road northbound, on to London Road, as soon as possible.

Plans for six new bus lanes, including this scheme, were approved in January 2024 as part of the Council’s £26m government-funded Bus Service Improvement Plan and the funding must be used by April 2027.

A connected project to change the layout of Sidmouth Street aims to increase capacity for vehicles travelling towards the town centre to reduce pressure on London Road.

Subject to approval by members of the Traffic Management Sub-Committee at a meeting in November, the proposed scheme involves the removal of an under-utilised cycle lane between South Street and Queens Road and the creation of an extra lane for general traffic.

If approved, work would start on the changes to Sidmouth Street in late November with a new temporary layout implemented before Christmas. The permanent scheme would then be completed in spring next year, including the upgrading of traffic signals and providing an additional right-turn into Queens Road.

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

“Reading is a major centre for employment, shopping and leisure which attracts thousands of car journeys into the town every day.

“While we welcome visitors to Reading, this can put a considerable strain on the road network and impact air quality.

“The new bus lane on London Road, between Sidmouth Street and London Street, will help improve journey times for passengers travelling on several busy routes into town and is part of a wider package of measures to promote public transport in Reading.

“There will inevitably be some inconvenience to road users while the works are carried out but all efforts will be made to try to mitigate disruption.”

Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Reading Buses, said

“This scheme has been cleverly targeted to improve two key strategic bus corridors from the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Reading University to the town centre, which also serve Woodley, Lower Earley, Shinfield, and Arborfield where a lot of new housing continues to be constructed.

“Predictable journey times are essential to ensure that our resources are used to provide the best service possible, and this will provide priority access for thousands of bus passengers a day on the leopard 3, buzz 9, little oranges 19a/b/c, and claret 21 who are helping to beat congestion, save on fuel, and save the environment.”