A NOTORIOUS traffic hotspot in Earley is set for an influx of cars over the next three weeks as it is used as a diversion during road works.

The Reading Road, in Shinfield, will shut for three weeks, starting this Monday, August 3, as flood-relief culverts are installed along a 500 metre stretch of road.

Instead drivers travelling from Shinfield to Arborfield will instead be re-routed along a seven-and-a-half mile diversion through Earley.

The diversion will take them northbound along Lower Earley Way towards Winnersh.

John Kaiser, executive member for highways at Wokingham Borough Council, said the council have been left with little alternative.

He said: "The works are both on major arterial routes.

"There are three routes between the M3 and Reading - the A327, the A33 and the A 329(M).

"We don't like the route we have got but we have got a 19th century road structure and, short of knocking down some houses, there is nothing else we can do."

Bus firm Reading Buses have spent weeks devising a plan to reduce disruption to traffic whilst the diversion is in place.

The leopard no. 3 service, which runs between Reading and Arborfield cross, will be split into two routes.

The service will run between Reading and Shinfield via its normal route, including the Royal Berkshire Hospital, but will only run as far as the Shinfield Infant and Nursery School's green stop.

The second service, which will be named leopard 3a, will run between Reading Station past Reading College in Kings Road then all the way to Arborfield Cross via a non stop diversion.

Martijn Gilbert, chief executive officer at Reading Buses, said the company will be offering special fares so customers are not penalised.

He said: "We are introducing transfer tickets on the leopard 3 and 3a that will allow interchange between the services whilst at the same time saving money for the people most affected by the diversion and service split.

"For example, if a customer gets on in Arborfield and wants to go to Shinfield they should ask for a Shinfield return transfer and pay £2.50.

“If they are going from Wokingham to the Royal Berkshire Hospital they should ask for a Reading transfer return and pay £4."