APPROVAL for the next phase of a groundbreaking cross-town cycle route is expected to be given next week.

Reading Borough Council's Policy Committee will meet on September 25 to discuss the second phase of Route 422 on the National Cycle Network.

When complete, the project will allow cyclists to travel from Newbury to Ascot via Reading by linking to existing cycle routes.

The first stage of the route continues to take shape after work along the Bath Road in the New Year.

Councillors are set to approve Phase Two, which will feature a mixture of on and off-carriageway cycle facilities, linking Bath Road to east Reading.

Tony Page, lead councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “Work to build this important new cycle route for Reading is progressing well and will continue through the Autumn.

“In the meantime planning is well advanced for Phase Two, using existing cycle lanes as well as new ones.

“This project is being led and largely delivered by an in-house council team to save on costs.

“It is also yet another example of the council identifying and successfully bidding for external funding to deliver continued investment in the highways, public transport and cycling infrastructure that Reading needs as it continues to thrive and grow.”

Phase One, which will include traffic signal upgrades at Liebenrood Road and Southcote Road, is expected to run into Autumn.

Route 422 is being funded externally through a successful joint local authority funding bid to the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Existing cycle lanes on Berkeley Avenue will be widened as part of the second stage, with a shared use cycle path catering for less confident and inexperienced cyclists, including for those travelling to nearby secondary schools.

It is a joint project between Reading, Bracknell, West Berkshire and Wokingham Borough Council.