Easthampstead Road

Project overview

Our work on Easthampstead Road is one of the most important parts of the South Wokingham Distributor Road.

From 13 April, the road will be closed between Star Lane and Heathlands Road until early 2027, with a diversion in place for vehicles.

We are working on a new junction for the Central Section of the distributor road.

Businesses will remain open as usual and access to these, as well as properties south of the level crossing on Easthampstead Road, will be maintained from the south.

Holme Grange Craft Village can be accessed from the south on Heathlands Road, via Nine Mile Ride or Honey Hill, and has free parking.

Changes to road layout

Where Easthampstead Road meets the distributor road, there will be a three-way signalised junction to provide access to and from the northern part of Easthampstead Road.

This change is necessary to allow safe access for the new homes coming to the area.

All northbound or southbound through traffic will instead follow a new link road, rejoining Easthampstead Road near the junction with Heathlands Road.

We're doing what we can to bring forward the completion date of the link road to minimise the overlap with the closure on Easthampstead Road. We will provide a more precise opening date for the link road closer to the time.

The length of the closure is required for:

• Existing Thames Water drainage systems need to be removed
• Two large pipes need to be installed under Easthampstead Road, forming the new upgraded large scale drainage network
• Connecting to the drainage system south of the railway line
• New underground infrastructure for electricity supplies and relocating the existing overhead lines
• Installation of traffic signals, footpaths, street lighting and safety barrier for permanent cul-de-sac
• Reconstruction of the carriageway once the above has been completed

A four-way junction would need to be much bigger to operate safely and would then be too close to other junctions nearby. Other changes include:

• Except for buses, eastbound traffic on the new Central Section won’t be able to turn left onto Easthampstead Road
• All westbound traffic on the new Central Section will be able to turn right onto Easthampstead Road
• All southbound traffic on Easthampstead Road will be able to turn either left (eastbound) or right (westbound) onto the new Central Section

Once the new road opens, HGVs heading north along Easthampstead Road will no longer be able to turn left into Heathlands Road, though all other traffic will.

The Star Lane level crossing will remain open after the works are completed, but will be closed while works are taking place.

Diversion information

When Easthampstead Road is closed from 13 April, the diversion route will be as follows:

• Northbound: Old Wokingham Road, Waterloo Road, William Heelas Way, London Road (A329) and Peach Street (A329)
• Southbound: Peach Street (A329), Broad Street (A329), Rectory Road (A329), Wiltshire Road (A329), London Road (A329), William Heelas Way, Waterloo Road and Old Wokingham Road

When the new link road opens at the end of May, the route will change to:

• Northbound: Link road, William Heelas Way, London Road (A329) and Peach Street (A329)
• Southbound: Peach Street (A329), Broad Street (A329), Rectory Road (A329), Wiltshire Road (A329), London Road (A329), William Heelas Way, link road

There will be no pedestrian access through site during the long-term closure on Easthampstead Road due to the nature of the work being undertaken.

Following the completion of the work at the junction of Easthampstead Road and Heathlands Road, footpath 5 will be back open again.

When the link road work is completed at the end of May, this will also provide an alternative route, with shared pedestrian and cycle facilities. This will be the length of the road on one side and more than half of the other side.

Work at Heathlands Road junction

We have also carried out work to reconfigure the junction of Easthampstead Road and Heathlands Road.

This work started in mid-November, with the new link road expected to be open by late May. Heathlands Road has reopened following a four-week closure of the junction.

With the junction reconfiguration work completed, traffic will be able to flow between Easthampstead Road and Heathlands Road.

Then at the end of May, the link road will open and the junction will be open under permanent traffic lights.

As the works progress, we will be able to provide specific start dates for each phase via our South Wokingham newsletter, as well as on our social media channels.