ROADWORKS in the centre of Wokingham which have plagued motorists for months will be finally coming to an end this weekend.
The new one-way system and turning rules for Shute End Station Road, Wellington Road, Barkham Road and Oxford Road is due to be completed this Sunday morning (3).
The new road layout is intended to ease traffic congestion in the area and create a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists.
The whole length of the new station link road will now be called Station Approach.
The currently closed roads – Station and Wellington Roads – will reopen in the early hours of May 3, and the one-way system started.
This means:
• Station Road becomes one-way running south from Shute End
• A new access for traffic turning right from Reading Road End into Station Road
• There will be no turning right into Station Approach from Station Road
• Traffic crossing the level crossing from Station Road cannot turn right into Oxford Road
• Wellington Road will run straight into Station Approach with no left/right turns into Barkham Road and Station Road
• Barkham Road traffic will head left into Station Approach only, directly after the level crossing
• The left turn into Oxford Road is reinstated
• Oxford Road will have a right turn only onto Barkham Road
All of these new turning rules will be legally enforced.
Head of highways at Wokingham Borough Council Matt Davey thanked motorists for their patience while the works were carried out.
He said: “This has been a huge project; a new train station and transport facilities out front, a brand new road between the station forecourt and Reading Road, a new junction and remodelled stretch of Reading Road, Shute End reconfigured where it meets with Reading Road, and the junctions of Oxford, Barkham, Wellington and Station Roads completely redesigned.
“Thank you again for all your patience during the construction of this scheme.”
Around 18,000 letters are being sent to residents and businesses in and around the area to prepare them for the new layout. Posters and flyers are being distributed in town centre carparks, at the train station and its carparks, and also issued to local bus firms.
Details about the new layout are also on the Wokingham Borough Council’s website on the station link road page www.wokingham.gov.uk/slr as well as on its Facebook and Twitter platforms.
