MOTORISTS are preparing for more roadwork misery after it was revealed that plans to shut the A327 Arborfield Road will overlap with works on the A329M.
The summer holiday works to repair the Loddon Viaduct has already brought monster jams around the Winnersh junctions of the busy motorway, with a knock-on effect on surrounding roads.
From Friday, the A327 Arborfield Road will be closed for 11 days to enable work to install a new roundabout. This will help complete the new Shinfield relief road, which is being built to link the borough to the University of Reading’s new science park.
However, the Liberal Democrats feel that the concurrent road closures will heap more pain on Earley residents who have already suffered during the Loddon Viaduct worked.
Cllr Clive Jones, Wokingham Borough councillor for the Hawkedon ward, said: “We have recently heard that the Arborfield Road is also going to be closed from August 19-30.
“This means that Earley residents who are using this road to go to work in the Wokingham area will have to find an alternative route.
“This will mean they have to join the struggle caused by the A329M roadworks. Some residents say that their journey times have been increased by an hour. They will now get much worse.”
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Cllr Jones also said that the council had not done enough to publicise the planned closure of the A327.
He said: “I would have thought that there should have been signs up advising motorists of the closure of Arborfield Road several weeks ago. The new Executive member for Highways Malcolm Richards really should get a grip of the situation and make sure that local residents get proper warnings of local roadworks.”
However, the Council said that work on the A329M is going well and they are hoping that, if the good weather continues, it will be able to reopen the road ahead of schedule.
Cllr Malcolm Richards, executive member for highways and transport, said: “We recognise the closure of the A327 does overlap with the advertised dates for the Loddon Viaduct works. However, due to good weather and the bridge deck requiring less repair work than anticipated, we’re confident at this time it will be completed ahead of schedule.
“We always strive to provide good notice and in this instance, we wanted to be sure the Loddon Viaduct work was progressing well before we confirmed the closure of the A327. The Arborfield Road full closure must start on Friday, August 19 for the new roundabout to be built and the road reopened before schools go back.
“The other alternative would be to start the work later but with traffic heavier it could only have a partial closure meaning the work would take longer to do. This roundabout is the final piece of the new Shinfield Eastern Relief Road which can then open properly.
“We recognise essential works do impact on road users, but I’d like to reassure everyone that we try to programme them during the quieter periods.”
