Footpaths and routes have been closed for the construction of a major new road in Wokingham.
Footpaths and routes are closed for the construction of a new road in Wokingham.
The South Wokingham Distributor Road will connect William Heelas Way and Waterloo Road with Finchampstead Road, serving around 1,500 homes to be built in the area.
Commissioned by Wokingham Borough Council after plans were approved in 2021, the project has led to the closure of three footpaths for safety, including the Emm Brook footbridge.
Access to Ludgrove School via Ludgrove Track is now restricted, with vehicle access only permitted from Heathlands Road.
The footpath from Gispy Lane to Emm Brook is set to reopen in February, with a phased reopening of other paths planned through May and July.
Road closures will continue until April 2026, impacting the junction of Finchampstead Road and Molly Millars Lane as part of the 'Western Gateway' project, which will enhance existing roundabouts.
Next year, the stretch south of the Finchampstead Road junction will close for new roundabout works, with pedestrian diversions in place.
The construction is expected to wrap up by March 2026, followed by final surfacing and road markings, which may require overnight closures.
Homes have already been demolished along the western route, with 81, 83, and 85 Finchampstead Road cleared for the roundabout improvements. The council spent approximately £1.75 million on these properties in 2021.
The South Wokingham Distributor Road is highlighted as a significant achievement in the council's report for Quarter 1 of 2025/26, presented to the overview and scrutiny commission on October 21.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
