A traffic lane for a main route into Reading could soon be used by buses only according to a planned change.

London Road is a main inbound route into Reading from the east, as drivers from Earley, Woodley and Newtown use it to get towards the town centre.

The stretch of London Road between the Sutton Seeds Roundabout and Cemetery Junction currently has two lanes to allow easier traffic flow.

But that could all change as Reading Borough Council has plans to make the lane closest to Palmer Park and the cemetery a bus lane.

A plan by traffic consultants WSP shows the proposed bus lane outlined in red.

Reading Chronicle: Proposals to make one of the existing traffic lanes in London Road, Reading into a bus lane. Credit: WSPProposals to make one of the existing traffic lanes in London Road, Reading into a bus lane. Credit: WSP

The bus lane would begin at the junction with Liverpool Road and end at Cemetery Junction, with the lane reopening to all traffic just prior to Cemetery Junction.

There would also be an inlet at the junction with St Bartholomew’s Road to let all traffic turn into that road.

The change forms part of the council’s bus service improvement plan (BSIP) which also proposes introducing bus lanes at the following locations:

  • A329 Oxford Road – Outbound bus lane between Zinzan Street and George Street
  • A329 Oxford Road – Outbound bus lane between Pangbourne Street and Norcot Junction
  • A4 Bath Road – Outbound bus lane from Circuit Lane to Granville Road
  • A327 Southampton Street – Inbound bus lane from Pell Street to The Oracle
  • roundabout
  •  A4 London Road – Inbound bus lane between Sidmouth Street and London Street
  • A4 London Road – Inbound bus lane between Liverpool Road and Cemetery Junction

An informal consultation is still running between May 19 to June 16, which can be filled in through an online survey, emailing the council or by letter to M Graham, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Reading Borough Council, Civic Offices, Reading, RG1 2LU.

The council’s transport department is set to present a report on that consultation to its traffic management sub-committee on Wednesday, June 14.

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In order for these bus lanes mentioned above to be made, a Statutory Consultation must be undertaken.

After that, the council can make Traffic Regulation Orders which will facilitate the creation of the bus lanes.

The council hopes consultations can begin this July, with results being reported to the traffic management sub-committee in September.