Reading Bridge Closure Reading Bridge will be closed from this month onwards till late Summer 2015. Whilst most closures will take place overnight, it will include a number of lane closures and there will also be short periods when it is fully closed. Reading Borough Council said it is essential as the bridge is almost 100 years old and needs to be strengthened and made waterproof. However the council is unable to state the specific date the work will end. The council said the notice has been worded this way to allow for unforeseen circumstances or if an emergency closure becomes necessary for public safety reasons. Tony Page, the councils lead member for transport, said: Reading Borough Council has had a long-standing ambition to create a third Thames Bridge, and that very much remains the case. Notwithstanding whether that comes to fruition however, Reading Bridge will continue to be a major strategic route through the town, and indeed the wider region, for many years to come (1). Furthermore, a statutory public notice advertising the works, due to be published this week, will detail an 18 month closure but the council says it is worded this way to allow for unforeseen circumstances or if an emergency closure becomes necessary for public safety reasons (2). “getreading” obtained traffic figures for both Reading and Caversham Bridges for the last five years, with an average of 20,011.6 cars travelling over the George Street crossing each day (3). Make sure you plan your routes to work before you venture out to avoid delays. Plus we’d love to hear your comments on the closure and how you think it will impact your journey. 1:getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/reading-bridge-closure-20000-cars-7830573 2:getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/motorists-warned-disruption-reading-bridge-7829662 3:bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-29348289
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 10:40:59 +0000