California crossroads reopened to traffic last weekend, but the unfinished work to the junction has been described as dangerous by some road users.
Plans for changes to the crossroads at the junction of Finchampstead Road and Nine Mile Ride were first mooted in 2015.
The work was paid for by developers who were granted permission to build homes at the nearby Arborfield Green development.
After being closed since February 2024, the junction has now reopened to traffic in all directions. including for buses which have returned to their regular routes.
Social media channels have seen a number of comments in recent days, with some users suggesting the junction should have remained closed until totally finished.
Several others report witnessing “near misses”, and another wrote: “This is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Cllr Chalres Margetts, councillor for Finchampstead, added: “Myself and other local councillors have received communications from residents who have described the junction opening without adequate road markings as dangerous.
“That said, I fully understand the pressures involved in wanting to open the junction as soon as possible.
Wokingham Borough Council said that work is continuing at the parking bays outside the shops, and that Avery Corner car park is now open.
It said all the usual highway code rules apply at the junction.
A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council told Wokingham Today: “All road markings are due to be complete by Friday.
“Temporary give way lines and give way signage was installed in the interim, along with cones and keep left arrows.
“This, along with the new keep left bollards, made the junction safe while waiting for the permanent road markings.
“The leaf pattern design will be installed in a circular layout to mimic that of a roundabout, however conventional roundabout roundels will not be installed.
“All advanced signage of the double roundabout layout is due to be in place between September 18-23, as well as ‘New Road Layout’ signs.
Asked whether a safety audit had been carried out prior to reopening the junction, the spokesperson said: “A safety audit wouldn’t be completed for a temporary layout, however we have a traffic management consultant on the ground who would assess the layout, ensure signage is clear and lane widths are achievable.
“This is a similar practice as they would have done for the closures, and the diversion route signage.
“They are trained traffic management operatives so wouldn’t open the area to through traffic if it wasn’t deemed as safe enough to do so.
“The scheme is not yet fully complete, and traffic is able to pass through and use the junction in the way it would at any works site accommodating vehicles.
“In line with standards, a stage three road safety audit will be carried out as soon as the scheme is complete and fully open to users with no temporary traffic management.”
Night closures will continue throughout September, subject to weather conditions, to resurface the road and to lay road markings.
The closures will be in place from 8pm to 6am.
