Project for new bus lane in Reading put on hold

Reading Borough Council is engaging in a major project to improve bus services after winning £26 million of funding from the Bus Back Better initiative introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2022.

Praising the initiative spearheaded by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, John Ennis, lead councillor for transport, said: "He understood Reading and how its historic bus services and efficiency were done."

Agreeing, councillor Paul Gittings (Labour, Coley) said: "This is a hugely ambitious programme, to be fair, there wasn't much good done by the last Tory government, in fact almost zero, but £26 million on the bus improvement programme was very welcome."

The project involves the creation of bus lanes, with six being approved at the start of this year.

READ MORE: New bus lanes explained - where they will be and when they could come into effect

Of those, three have been implemented, two are in the planning stage and another proposed bus lane has been shelved altogether.

An update and changes to the bus lanes were approved at a traffic management sub-committee meeting on November 27.

Find out the progress of each of the projects below.

London Road inbound 

A bus along London Road, Reading, where a new bus lane has been established. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

One of the most controversial projects for a bus lane between Liverpool Road and Cemetery Junction has been live since August 14.

Motorbikers previously expected to have access to the bus lane.

While this access was initially provided, it was revoked for weeks before being reinstated on a trial basis on September 13.

Oxford Road, near the town centre

The amendments made to the bus lane in Oxford Road between Zinzan Street and George Street in Reading, implemented on November 2. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

This bus lane between Zinzan Street and George Street went live on Wednesday, October 9 to speed up journeys away from the town centre.

The scheme was changed from its original design, with minor amendments made to the parking and loading bays to the west of Bedford Road, between the junction and Prospect Street.

The adjustments were made when the bus lane was established, with councillors approving the changes at the committee meeting.

Oxford Road, Norcot 

The westbound bus lane in Oxford Road between Pangbourne Street and the Norcot Junction in West Reading as implemented. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

Work on a bus lane between Pangbourne Street and Norcot Road was completed on November 2.

During implementation, advisory cycle symbols were removed so that the lane could be properly implemented.

READ MORE: Changes planned for one of the busiest roads in Reading to speed up bus journeys

Furthermore, a proposed relocation of a bus stop west of Grovelands Road has not been implemented, as council officers are monitoring the impacts
of the new bus lane before conducting a relocation.

The bus lane was created after the removal of an eastbound bus lane along this stretch which was agreed on June 13.

Oracle roundabout

The redesign for a bus lane in Southampton Street and The Oracle roundabout in Reading. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

The smallest of the changes, this will involve creating a bus lane at The Oracle roundabout to create easier access for buses heading north into Bridge Street.

Work was meant to be completed in September, but the scheme had to be redesigned as the initial design involved changes to traffic lights which can no longer be implemented.

Councillors have agreed to begin a statutory consultation into the alternative design.

London Road westbound between Sidmouth Street and London Street

The inbound new bus lane in London Road between Sidmouth Street and London Street, Reading. Credit: Ridge / Reading Borough Council

Stretches of London Road will be turned into a bus lane to allow for better turnings into London Street and the town centre.

In order for the project to begin, the council needs to conduct procurement, which is set to begin in the New Year, with hopes for construction in Spring 2025.

The bus lane was meant to be implemented this December.

Bath Road put on hold

The approved bus lane in Reading between Circuit Lane and the westbound entrance and exit of Granville Road. Credit: Stantec / Reading Borough Council

A westbound bus lane between Circuit Lane and Granville Road has been put on hold due to budget constraints.

Cllr Ennis (Labour, Southcote) said:  "I'm disappointed as a ward councillor of the Bath Road project, but understand like a lot of projects in this country that are private and public sector, with the way of cost-of-living and inflation that we can't achieve everything.

"To take that out is the right way forward. I'm sure we'd be disappointed in the west on that, but I think to get all the others completed will be a really really outstanding piece of work. "

The committee voted for the proposed Bath Road bus lane to be put on hold with funding allocated for it to be reinvested into the two pending bus lane schemes.