Drivers in the borough can expect long delays with news that several major roads are set to undergo extensive gas pipe repairs.
Signs have already gone up on Nine Mile Ride in Wokingham Without, advising of road closures that are set to last for five months.
Similar work in Earley is also set to start in the New Year.
Dan Brown, a spokesperson for SGN told Wokingham Today: “We’ll shortly start essential gas network upgrades in Finchampstead and Earley.
“This work will ensure local homes and businesses will continue to receive a safe and reliable supply of gas for many years to come.
“In each case, our work will start on Monday, December 4, and last approximately six months. These projects will be carried out in phases to help minimise disruption to local residents.
“We recognise this duration may appear lengthy however, around 1 km of pipework needs to be replaced along Nine Mile Ride, and this timeframe is based on our engineering teams completing 50 metres each week.
“To ensure everyone’s safety, we need to implement traffic management measures around our work areas.
“We’ll need to close sections of roads and install temporary traffic lights so we can safely access our pipe at certain locations.”
“Signed diversions will be in place for affected motorists, but access will be maintained for residents and businesses around our closure areas throughout.
“To alleviate any disruption over the Christmas period, we’ll suspend our work on Sunday, December 17, and return in the new year.
“All affected roads will reopen as there will be no carriageway incursion from our work areas or equipment during this time.
“We’re holding an online drop-in session on Thursday 30 November enabling the community to discuss our work and answer any questions.
“Details of meeting joining instructions can be found on our website.
“Alternatively, our teams on-site will also be able to support any special access requirements for residents or businesses throughout.
Further information about the phases of work and updates for the Nine Mile Ride roadworks can be found at: https://bit.ly/3uxMmMG.
Elsewhere, SGN will also be upgrading its gas network pipes, replacing old metal gas mains and services with new plastic pipes.
It said the essential work will ensure the community continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.
“Our contractor, I&G Contractors, will be completing this project on our behalf and will start work on Monday December 4.
Engineers will be working in the following roads:
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Aldbourne Avenue and Ramsbury Drive. From December 4 until February 29, 2024
“While we are working in Aldbourne Avenue and Ramsbury Drive, we will ask road users to ‘give and take’ past our work site for everyone’s safety. We’ll be closing the work site for Christmas before returning in early January.”
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Betchworth Avenue. From March 4 until May 15, 2024.
“For the safety of everyone around our work site, we’ll need to temporarily close Betchworth Avenue. Access will be maintained for residents and businesses and a signed diversion will be in place for road users.”
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Silverdale Road. From March 4 until May 15, 2024.
“For the safety of everyone around our work site, we’ll need to temporarily close Silverdale Road. Access will be maintained for residents and businesses and a signed diversion will be in place for road users.”
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Wilderness Road. From April 15 until May 21, 2024.
“While working in Wilderness Road, we’ll need to install temporary multi-way traffic signals to allow road users to safely pass our work site.”
More information about the Earley works can be found at https://bit.ly/47B5qbw.
The spokesperson concluded: “We understand people can get frustrated by roadworks and so we only use traffic management that we feel is efficient enough to complete these works safely for ourselves and the public.”
