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 has been closed between Star Lane and Heathlands Road, 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.

As of 29 May, the link road opened, providing a shorter alternative route to the previous diversion. 

The link road runs from the junction with Easthampstead Road up to what will be the South Wokingham Distributor Road. Turning right will take you to the Waterloo Road roundabout, while to the left will be our site access while construction continues on the Central Section.

The new junction with traffic lights where the link road meets Easthampstead Road also joins up with Heathlands Road.

In addition to the link road, you can reach destinations such as Holme Grange Craft Village from the south on Heathlands Road, via Nine Mile Ride, or Easthampstead Road via Old Wokingham Road. The site has free parking and is open seven days a week.

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 the new link road, rejoining Easthampstead Road near the junction with Heathlands Road.

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

As of 29 May, the new link road opened, providing a quicker alternative to the previous diversion route. The new diversion route is now:

• 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 is open again.

The link road also provides an alternative route for pedestrians and cyclists through a shared pathway. This is 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 opened on 29 May.

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 opened and the junction was opened 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.