Overnight closures announced for bus lane works

Opponents to the plan said London Road would become more congested

The installation of a bus lane on a major route in Reading will result in three overnight closures, the council has said.

Cars will not be allowed to use the left lane of London Road heading towards the town centre once the work is completed.

The road will shut in both directions between 19:00 BST and 01:00 on 12, 13 and 14 August.

Reading Borough Council’s Labour administration said the change, which will come into effect on 15 August, would lead to faster and more reliable journeys for bus travellers.

The project has proven contentious, with 122 people objecting to the change during a public consultation.

A spokesperson for the council said the work has been planned to take place during the summer holidays to minimise disruption and avoid Reading Festival traffic.

Opposition councillors voted against the project when it was approved in January this year.

Green Party councillor Kathryn McCann raised concerns that traffic queues would double in size as drivers had less space.

Addressing the concerns, the council acknowledged that changes to the road network would lead to longer queues for general traffic, which it described as "unavoidable".

The bus lane is one of six being established as part of the council’s bus service improvement plan - a £26m programme that received funding from the government.

Councillor John Ennis, who is in charge of climate strategy and transport at the council, said: "Faster, more reliable and more frequent bus services will make public transport an even more attractive option to people travelling to Reading and around the borough, and will lead to less traffic, cleaner air and better health for residents."