COMMUTERS in Reading will enjoy faster transport times when work is completed on a 12-week scheme to build a new bus lane in Reading.

Dubbed South Reading MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), the first phase of work will begin at Imperial Way on Monday September 5 to add a southbound lane to junction 11 along the A33 corridor.

Funnelling passengers along the M4, the new lane will also accommodate both the town centre and Green Park business estate by carrying traffic to the 573-space Mereoak park and ride.

Cllr Tony Evans said: “Reading remains the capital of the Thames Valley region but with this success comes increasing demands on limited road space.

“We need to make sustainable travel choices more attractive to people. Speeding up bus journeys along the A33 is one way of achieving that.

“A dedicated bus lane along the A33 will speed up journey times, not only for bus passengers but for all road users, by freeing up road space which would otherwise have been used by buses.”

The council's lead member for strategic environment, planning and transport added the council is proposing a similar dedicated public transport route in east Reading.

Cllr Page added that the council is writing to key stakeholders including Reading Buses and other bus companies and businesses including those at Green Park advising them of the start of the work.

The length of work is dependant on weather conditions, but road users are already being warned to expect delays and plan alternatives routes to their journeys.

The first phase of the scheme, costing £500,000, has been funded through Reading Borough Council's successful bid as part of the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP.

Off-peak road closures will be present for the entirety of the 12-week programme from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Monday to Friday's. Weekend work will not be scheduled when Reading FC play at home.

No road capacity for other vehicles is being lost in order to create the lane. Extra space is being created by using land from the wide central reservation of the motorway end of the A33.

The rest of the work will be completed once funding has been secured. Further work is scheduled in 2017.