'Intelligent' traffic lights set for busy A329

State-of-the-art traffic lights are to be installed at the Three Tuns junction of the A329 next month to improve traffic flow.

They are the first phase initiatives being introduced by Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) after it successfully bid for £2.75m from the Depatment for Transport's Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

One of the council's targets is to achieve a reduction in car usage and deliver a 10 per cent increase in public transport use in the A329 corridor.

From the end of the month hundreds of households in Winnersh will also be offered personalised travel plans and incentives to use public transport.

Businesses will be offered similar incentives for their employees such as car pooling schemes.

From early November the 'intelligent traffic lights' will be installed at the Three Tuns junction on the A329.

The new traffic lights react to real time traffic flows.

The junction is also set to be resurfaced and improvements made for cyclists and pedestrians. It is hoped the works will be finished by Christmas.

On public transport First has introduced additional peak time journeys on its190 route to help commuters, school children and students. There will also be real time service information at bus stops along the route.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for highways and planning at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Following the award of these funds in late May I am pleased with the progress that has been made.

“These initial projects mark the start of the process to ease congestion on this vital through route. This will directly contribute to the economic wellbeing of our leading companies keeping them competitive in an ever challenging environment. I look forward to subsequent phases where cycling becomes a focus of attention.”