Project to improve access across town finished

The new bridge over the River Kennet has been opened, along with the other improvements

A project to improve public transport links across a town and create a new pedestrian and cycle bridge has been completed.

The fifth phase of the South Reading Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme between the south of the town and the centre, extended bus lanes, added new bus stops and provided a new crossing over the River Kennet.

It was designed to help buses using the A33 to avoid pinch points and help further improve their services on the route to Kennet Island, Green Park and Mereoak Park and Ride.

John Ennis, Reading Council's lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said the work's completion is "great news".

"The new bridge provides cyclists and pedestrians with better infrastructure and has created space for a bus lane without removing any carriageway from general traffic," he said.

"I thank road users for their patience while work took place, but experience shows that previous phases of the South Reading BRT have improved reliability of bus services which has led to higher patronage and taken thousands of cars off our roads."