Work is progressing on a new road that will serve more than 1,000 new homes in Wokingham.
Work is progressing on a new road that will serve more than 1,000 new homes in Wokingham.
Plans have been in place for years for the South Wokingham major development, which will create approximately 1,500 homes and bring the town south of the Reading to London Waterloo railway line for the first time.
The new South Wokingham Distributor Road will link William Heelas Way in the east with a new roundabout near the Tesco Superstore to the west. Construction has been carried out throughout the last year, with ground and foundational works now complete ahead of tarmac being laid.
The project reached a key milestone just before the end of 2025 when the beams for the bridge over the Emm Brook were lifted into place. Photos posted by Wokingham Borough Council on Facebook show the bridge section and the crane used to install it.
A 3D image published by the council shows a shared foot and cycle path along the route as well as dedicated paths at ground level.
The council post said: "Each 125-tonne steel girder was installed using a 500-tonne crane, helping to form part of what will be the new road. "There will be a shared footway and cycleway along the length of the road, helping to promote active travel. "Footpath access will remain in the area, with some realignment to be carried out as part of resurfacing that will make it suitable for use all-year round. "The project also includes drainage measures to offset any increased risk of flooding, such as drainage channels and ponds."
The bridge over the Emm Brook sits towards the west in the Central Section of the route; the Tesco Superstore in Finchampstead Road can be seen in the photo showing the crane. The image also shows the extensive groundworks completed ahead of the road surface being laid.
The Central Section includes a new roundabout and work to increase the capacity of the existing Tesco roundabout. Work is also under way on the "Western Gateway" to increase traffic capacity at the junction of Molly Millars Lane and Finchampstead Road, which remains closed until Tuesday, January 27 while that work is carried out.
The road is being built as part of the South Wokingham Strategic Development Location (SDL), a site designated for development in the council's Local Plan.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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