A STRETCH of Northumberland Avenue is set to be closed during the daytime for the next three weeks for essential road repairs.

The main thoroughfare through Whitley will be subject to the closures from Monday morning and will be off limits to traffic between 8am and 5pm midweek.

The carriageway stabilisation works will be undertaken by specialist contractors between Canterbury Road and Cressingham Road.

Local access from residents will be maintained wherever possible.

Councillor Tony Page, lead councillor for transport, said: “Anyone who lives in Northumberland Avenue or who uses it regularly knows the carriageway is in a poor condition and is in desperate need of repair.

“Northumberland Avenue is a busy road and the works will inevitably cause some inconvenience but we hope disruption can be kept to a minimum.

“I’d like to thank local residents and road users for their co-operation and patience in advance.”

Reading Buses services which use the stretch of road will be redirected through the closures and diversions will be in place for other motorists.

While closed workers will be seeking to stabilise the carriageway which is made of concrete slabs which have shifted over the years.

The surface of the road will then be relaid at the end of the project.