WOKINGHAM Borough Council’s work to reconfigure the junction of Easthampstead Road and Heathlands Road will resume today, Wednesday January 7, following the festive break.
The project’s next phase will run for five weeks and will see Heathlands Road closed at all times where it joins Easthampstead Road.
The closure will be 50 metres from the stop sign and not the length of the whole road, but there will be a diversion in place.
The road layout will be changed to allow traffic to move in both directions on Easthampstead Road while the junction is being reconfigured, with temporary traffic lights in place.
Residents, who have been struggling with the road diversions for several months since work on the project began, face further disruption.
Diversions for some could be particularly long and awkward.
On resident in the Southlands Road area said: “If you live in Wokingham and want to access the schools and businesses in Heathlands Road and Honey Hill, you will need to go via Nine Mile Ride.
“The diversion is to the end of Easthampstead Road, where you have to turn right at the most dangerous junction in the area, before heading towards Nine Mile Ride and Crowthorne.
“The roadworks between Tesco and Molly Millars Lane will continue to close Finchampstead Road, so the only other alternative if you want to go south towards Nine Mile Ride will be to go to London Road and either head towards Bracknell on A329M or drive through William Heelas Way.”
The work on Easthampstead Road is part of the South Wokingham Distributor Road project.
Started on 17 November, this whole section is due to be completed by May 2026, with the new link road expected to be open at around the same time.
Between these dates, there will be potential delays to journeys through temporary traffic lights and road closures, says the council.
It adds that throughout the process there is no access for pedestrians through the site, but access will be maintained for residents, and businesses remain open as usual.
While Heathlands Road is closed for five weeks, the diversion route is: Easthampstead Road, Old Wokingham Road, Nine Mile Ride, Heathlands Road (and the reverse for northbound traffic).
For information, visit: one.network and wokingham.gov.uk/roads
