A KEY commuter route which has already seen significant delays is set to get worse for seventh months as Network Rail carries out a project to ease traffic in the future.

The bottleneck under Cow Lane bridge has been the subject of horrendous traffic and the rail provider is working with Reading Borough Council to improve the flow.

Realignment works earlier this month have already handed drivers nightmare journeys and long queues and from December 11 access will be restricted to northbound only until July next year.

A new one-way restriction will be in place under Cow Lane Bridge from 6am, with temporary traffic signals positioned on the approach.

Southbound traffic approaching Cow Lane bridge from Richfield Avenue will be diverted at Caversham Bridge roundabout southbound along Caversham Road, the IDR and Chatham Street, or along Castle Hill, Tilehurst Road or the Bath Road.

Tony Page, deputy leader of the council, said: “Cow Lane is a key strategic location on Reading’s road network. Managing restricted traffic movements through the duration of Network Rail’s works was always going to be a significant challenge.

“By changing access under the bridge to one-way northbound only, we remove the need for half a kilometre of Cow Lane to be under temporary traffic signal control, which is the main cause of the delays we have seen in both directions."

Advanced warning notices advising drivers of the closure will be in place throughout the wider area from this week.

The temporary one way restriction will remain in place until July 2018, when Network Rail will have re-aligned the road into the new tunnel and when users will – for the first time – experience two-way traffic.

Network Rail and the Council also considered four-way traffic signals along Cow Lane, but this would have resulted in waiting times of up to 5 minutes for a green light, adding to disruption and delays.

When the scheme is complete, it will mean double-decker buses will be able to cross Cow Lane for the first time, speeding up journey times for passengers.

When the scheme is complete, it will also mean traffic lights will no longer be needed through the bridges, with a new and safe route for both pedestrians and cyclists.

Shyam Samani, project manager for Network Rail, added: “We hope to see improvements to the delays that motorists have been experiencing with the new traffic management system at Cow Lane.

“In addition to this, the changes to the current traffic management system will improve safety for those leaving SafeStore and the nearby GWR and Network Rail depots, and will improve access for our contractors, enabling them to complete this work safely and efficiently.”