A controversial junction in Finchampstead has been short-listed for multiple awards.
In what Wokingham borough council has described as “.. an innovative refurbishment of a road junction”, California crossroads has been widely praised by experts for improving its surroundings and making them safer.
The council’s transformation of the junction has been named Best Community Project in the Landor LINKS Active Travel Directory and Yearbook 2025-26.
It is also short-listed in two categories of this year’s Highways Awards (Active Travel Scheme of the Year, and Line Marking and Street Design), and in the Placemaking Project category of this year’s British Construction & Infrastructure (BCI) Awards.
Works at the junction of Nine Mile Ride and Finchampstead Road started in February 2024 and were completed in September 2024, with residents and businesses given regular updates.
The junction was resurfaced with raised “table” crossing points on all four approaches, plus a colourful leaf pattern on the carriageway to reflect the area’s woodland surroundings.
The crossing points are marked with white leaf designs to make them more visible, while access to nearby shops and services was improved.
This year’s BCI Awards, organised by the Institution of Civil Engineers and New Civil Engineer magazine, received almost 250 entries.
Judges praised California Crossroads as a “thoughtful reconfiguration of a challenging junction to prioritise pedestrian safety and community amenity”, and highlighted the “extensive local engagement, inclusive design, and positive impact on accessibility and road safety”.
They added it was a “well-executed small-scale intervention that successfully improved everyday usability and local identity”.
The Active Travel Directory, now in its fourth year, highlights the best and most ambitious projects around the country that promote walking and cycling, while the Highways Awards are judged by professionals including members of the Institute of Highways Engineers.
The Highways Awards winners will be announced in September, with the BCI Awards winners to follow in October.
This project was part of a wider infrastructure package to come alongside new housing at the former Arborfield Garrison site, and the developers were required to fund it.
A vision was drawn up about 10 years ago by a project group involving residents, businesses and parish councillors, then developed into a final design through public consultation.
In a statemen, Wokingham borough council said: “The design creates a stronger sense of identity by shifting priority away from motor vehicles, similar to successful projects at Poynton in Cheshire and Ponders End in Enfield.
“It was shaped by Department for Transport guidance and went through independent safety auditing, with appropriate changes, before construction started.
“As well as having tactile paving and contrasting colours to maximise accessibility, the raised tables act as traffic-calming measures and encourage slower vehicle speeds.”
In carrying out the works, the council also made improvements to public areas alongside the highway.
The shopping parade, Avery Corner car park and the approach to Nine Mile Ride primary school are now at the same level as the carriageway and other areas, giving non-drivers priority with improved wheelchair access.
A study commissioned by the council has shown pedestrians can now cross the road in less time and drivers give way more often, especially on the central crossing.
Further studies will be carried out in due course, while a stage 4 (monitoring) road safety audit will take place in October.
Cllr Adrian Betteridge, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “After many years in development and construction, it’s great to see this project’s benefits being recognised by multiple experts outside the council.
“We thank residents for bearing with the disruption while the work was under way, and it is good to hear ever more positive feelings as local people become more familiar with the new layout.
“We’re pleased that motorists have been driving courteously across the new junction and giving way, making it welcoming to pedestrians and cyclists including children who attend the nearby primary school.
“We’re committed to tackling the climate emergency on all fronts, as well as air pollution, and creating spaces where everyone can get around more sustainably is crucial to that.”
Cllr Charles Margetts, a Finchampstead councillor and the Conservative shadow highways executive, said: “When this £5.5 million project was complete, WBC asked its own independent safety consultant to carry out a safety audit.
“The safety consultant recommended a set of changes to improve safety at this junction.
“Wokingham borough council decided to reject around half of them as they were in conflict with the design.
Local residents raised a petition calling for WBC to implement all of the safety recommendations which WBC decided to ignore.
“These actions yet again show how tone deaf WBC is to the views of local residents.
“Rather than follow the recommendations of their own safety report and the clearly expressed will of local residents, WBC would prefer to spend time and taxpayers money entering this scheme into every award possible in an attempt to justify their own folly.
“Meaningless trinkets from trade bodies who don’t live in the area and don’t experience the junction clearly count more than the views of local people.
“We call on WBC to follow the advice of its own independent safety audit, put local people first and fully implement the recommendations of their own road safety audit.”
As well as the more visible changes, the scheme included a replacement of the entire drainage system under the road to overcome long-standing issues.
To build on the sense of identity, the scheme includes new planting as well as bespoke bollards and totem signs designed by pupils at Nine Mile Ride and Gorse Ride primary schools.
Parking outside neighbouring shops was changed to help traffic flow and improve visibility.
All Highway Code rules still apply at the junction, with drivers giving way to the right. Everyone using it, including cyclists, must respect road users who are more vulnerable than them.
The council said it remains committed to maintaining a safe highway network and will continue to work with residents when introducing new schemes and road layouts.
For more about the project and how the junction works, visit www.wokingham.gov.uk/roads/road-maintenance/california-cross.
