Caversham roadworks: When will Reading traffic chaos end?

The Reading suburb has been affected by nightmare congestion since the middle of March as cable works have taken place on and over Caversham Bridge.

Work has affected the rest of the town, too, with traffic tailing back to the IDR when the CityFibre project got underway.

Roadworks have blighted Caversham over the past few weeks

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Cable layers are now set up on Church Street where they are digging up the highway opposite Costa.

Roadworks have blighted Caversham over the past few weeks

This work has necessitated the use of a three-way light system which has slowed traffic coming in and out of Caversham.

But now it appears there is light at the end of the bridge as roadworks seem set to come to an end.

Roadworks have blighted Caversham over the past few weeks

According to Reading Borough Council’s live road updates webpage, the works on Church Street are set to end by April 15.

One worker who spoke to the Chronicle said the project could be finished by tomorrow (April 13), although this is unconfirmed by CityFibre.

Roadworks have blighted Caversham over the past few weeks

With the end hopefully in sight, the Chronicle spoke to a few local traders whose businesses have been affected by the works.

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Nadeem Saleh, deputy manager at The Griffin pub, said: “When it first started, we were all good. Everyone was turning up a bit late. I think after a week or two, no one bothered. You're fed up of being stuck on a bridge for 45 minutes.

Nadeem Saleh, The Griffin

“They were just not coming, so most of our customers were walkers.

“There was a time where it looked like we were closed for a couple of days because they [workers] were right in front of our pub.

“You have seen the difference at lunchtime. That’s when we take a hit really… if you look around now there are five tables filled.

Roadworks have blighted Caversham over the past few weeks

“I think after three weeks of being stuck in traffic, you don't bother coming to Caversham.

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“Hopefully it picks up a bit, because it's Easter weekend as well. So hopefully it just picks up back to normal.”

Phada Gorma, assistant manager of Thai Table on Church Road, added: “When they started working like this and people knew about it, they started to avoid [that area] and cancel [bookings].

Phada Gorma, Thai Table

“Some of them were stuck [in traffic] for one hour. It was very bad, very bad.

“And then the extra effect is on our delivery, which has been extended to one hor to one-and-a-half hours.

“So it’s affected us a lot.”

Roadworks have blighted Caversham over the past few weeks

Phada said she will be 'relieved' when the works are over.

“I understand, it was something they had to do.

“I have to accept that what they are doing, they are doing it very fast.”

Stacey King, Area Manager at CityFibre, said: “CityFibre is investing £58m into Reading to transform its digital infrastructure and bring next-generation full-fibre connectivity to almost every home and business in the city. This is a major undertaking, which is why we are constantly working with our build partner, local authorities and the council’s highways team to ensure all works are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible.

"We’d like to reassure residents that we are doing everything possible to manage disruption. Works are progressing at speed, and our teams are now moving away from Caversham Bridge, which will help to ease traffic in the coming days. We are due to finish our works in this area of Caversham by mid-April and we thank residents and commuters for their patience with any recent delays they may have encountered. We are extremely grateful for the support we’ve received from the wider community to date while we deliver this major investment programme.”