WARNING: Reading Bridge Closure

Please see below a message from Reading Council regarding the closure of Reading Bridge from 18th May. Please be aware that ANY travel in and around Reading during this time will likely take much longer than usual. With major competitions coming up we need all competing athletes at training so please ensure you plan your journeys accordingly.

Subject: Reading Bridge - full closure 18th May

Dear all,

You may be already be aware that since November 2014 Reading Borough Council has been carrying out work to strengthen Reading Bridge. Reading Bridge is one of only two crossings over the Thames in Reading. It is over 90 years old now and the structure is now in need of essential strengthening and waterproofing to ensure it can continue to carry the amount of traffic it does in future years.

Throughout these essential works, our priority has been to keep disruption to a minimum and Reading Bridge has been kept open to date in recognition of its huge importance to Reading and the region.

The Council announced at the start of the works however that a full closure would be necessary at some point in the latter part of the project. That full closure begins on Monday 18th May and is expected to be in place for two weeks. The full closure will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will note the second week of the two week closure coincides with half term week, when traffic levels are lower.

Reading Bridge will be completely closed for both private vehicles and public transport over this period. Pedestrian access will be maintained however, albeit via a much narrower route.

Given the volume of traffic that normally crosses Reading Bridge, it is inevitable that there will be a significant impact on traffic levels across Reading, and particularly in the immediate area and across nearby Caversham Bridge.

In March, Reading Borough Council gave residents more than 10 weeks’ notice of the full closure so that they could make a note of the dates and allow for extra time if planning trips in this period. The Council is now reminding all schools of the closure dates and would ask that all schools remind pupils, and parents of pupils, of those dates as they should allow extra time for travel over this period. This is particularly important as some pupils are sitting exams.

Thank you for your assistance on this matter and for your patience whilst these essential strengthening works to Reading Bridge take place.

For more information go to http://beta.reading.gov.uk/bridges

Regards

Richard Ponchaud

Assistant Engineer

Highways | DENS

Reading Borough Council

19 Bennet Road

Reading

RG2 0QX

0118 937 4193 (74193)

07738 916532 (88566)