Lower Earley Way Dualling

Schedule of work

Summer 2018: Detailed design complete and planning conditions discharged
Autumn 2018: Data collection including archaeological and environmental studies
Late Autumn 2018: Site preparation and utilities re-routing
Early 2019: Construction begins
Autumn: Open to traffic four months ahead of schedule

Background

This project on Lower Earley Way has involved widening of the road to provide two lanes in each direction, between the Loddon Roundabout, near Showcase Cinema, and the new junction with the Winnersh Relief Road.

These dualling works have taken place to accommodate the forecast traffic, which will be introduced by the completion of the Winnersh Relief Road (WRR). We have realigned the existing footway/cycleway and added a new footway to the eastern side of the road.

The works to deliver the Lower Earley Way dualling scheme have involved widening the northbound carriageway, including renewing the kerb, existing surface water drainage infrastructure, road markings, road signs and other street furniture and resurfacing the road.

Current project status

Dualling works on Lower Earley Way have now been completed significantly ahead of schedule.

Favourable weather through the build period meant that less time was lost due to poor ground conditions. More importantly, good planning and well managed delivery meant that a number of the significant risks identified at the start of the project were able to be avoided.

Works including planting and landscaping along the carriageway will be carried out at a later date, with the majority of these works taking place off the road and without the need for lane closures or temporary traffic lights.

Planning application

Lower Earley Dualling is being progressed through permitted development rights under the town and Country Planning Act 1990, as the proposed works are on Public Highway or immediately adjoining Public Highway. A certificate of Lawful Development under Section 191 of the Act was provided by the Planning Authority in June 2016.

Details of the decision can be found on the planning portal under planning reference 162639.

Further to receipt of the above, the Planning Authority also confirmed that the scope of the proposed dualling works would not require a full Environmental Impact Assessment under the Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011.

Details of the decision can be found on the planning portal under planning reference 163459.

Design

As part of the detailed design, a value engineering exercise was carried out. This has resulted in the reduction of the widening to the west side only. This has significantly improved the buildability of the scheme and has reduced the construction programme and costs, whilst providing the required highway capacity and an improved pedestrian link between Hatch Farm and the Loddon Roundabout. See attached file for a drawing of the final scheme design.

Construction

The main construction works has been carried out in 5 phases and is now complete. A summary of the construction programme:

Phase 1 – Southbound (completed) - Construction of new southbound footway
Phase 2 – Northbound (completed) - Construction of new northbound widening
Phase 3 – Culvert Island Site (completed) - Construction of culvert crossing
Phase 4 – Culvert Southbound (completed) - Construction of culvert crossing
Phase 4 and 5 – Resurfacing and Road Marking (completed) - Construction of new road surface

Read the Lower Earley Way Dualling Construction Programme (PDF document.)

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