RESIDENTS fear upcoming strengthening works on Reading Bridge, which will see the structure close for two weeks, will cause “absolute chaos” in Caversham.

Despite road users being given more than 10 weeks notice of the full closure, which will also see the 92-year-old bridge receive waterproofing to ensure it can continue to carry its average of 24,000 vehicles daily, residents are still dreading the knock-on effect, dubbing it “a complete nightmare”.

Although the project began in October with off-peak lane closures, a date for the remaining works had been kept open due to the structure’s strategic importance to the borough and the region’s road network.

But Reading Borough Council announced on Thursday that a full closure will be in operation from May 18 and will include the two weekends, prompting Caversham’s residents, who have also suffered ongoing parking and traffic problems, to ask the question, is it ever going to end?

Chairman of the Caversham Traders Association Chris Walton, 54, said: “It’s not an easy situation and it’s not going to be a desirable one but, unfortunately, you can’t make an omelette without cracking a few eggs. The bridge needs to be repaired, I mean, what else is the council going to do?”

The owner of Walton’s Jewellers and Goldsmiths in Prospect Street, added: “Yes, it’s going to cause a lot of problems for Caversham, which has already suffered so much lately, but I suppose it has to be done.”

High volumes of traffic often back out onto Caversham’s main roads, causing long delays for commuters travelling in and out of the borough from locations such as Oxford and Henley.

Added to this is the regeneration of St Martin’s Precinct which was given the green light during the February 11 Planning Committee meeting which will see the precinct gain a cinema, restaurant and 40 new flats.

Parking objections raised at the meeting encouraged the council to agree to invest £430,038 as part of a Section 106 agreement to improve transport links and parking in the ward.

But, despite concerns that the May bridge works will result in a further strain on the ward, Caversham’s traders have sympathised with the position of the council in delivering the essential works to the popular bridge.

For Caversham’s pedestrians who travel by rail to the capital, their 0.7 mile journey via Gosbrook Road to the station, which usually takes an average of 13 minutes, will take 35 minutes if walking the proposed Caversham Bridge route – adding an extra mile to their journey.

Bus numbers 22, 22a and 23 will also be using Caversham Bridge and will then rejoin their normal routes to transport passengers to and from the ward with no additional charges to customers while the works take place.

A spokesman for Reading Buses said: “We’ll be diverting our buses over Caversham Bridge to keep them on time. Journey times will be extended but, traffic and time of day depending, this shouldn’t be by a disproportionate amount of time.”

Reading Borough Council’s lead member for strategic environment, planning and transport, Councillor Tony Page, said by giving notice of the project the council hopes to minimise the disruption the works will cause.

He said: “The council has no choice but to carry out the works to avoid permanent lane closures which would be necessary without this strengthening work. Any full closure will inevitably cause significant disruption.”

Work on the Reading bridge strengthening project is currently being carried out on Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.