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University of Reading

Queen's Drive works: changes to Whiteknights car and bus access

Monday, 30 July 2018

Queen's Drive closure

QueenÔÇÖs Drive is the road that turns into Whiteknights campus from the Shinfield Road entrance.

The maintenance work along Queen’s Drive, Whiteknights campus, has made good progress over recent weeks. From Thursday 2 August the maintenance work will move into its second phase, opening up car parks 6 and 7 and bus access to Chancellors Way. 

Phase 2: important information

View map of Phase 2 works >>>

The following arrangements will be in place Wednesday 1 August - Friday 31 August. 

For those driving onto campus:

  • Access is available through the Pepper Lane, Shinfield Road, Upper Redlands Road (via the Windsor Drive entrance), and the Foxhill Gate entrances.
  • Car parks 6 and 7 will be accessible from Tuesday 31 July. Please note that car park 7 will continue to be used by our contractors, which may limit the number of spaces available for staff. 
  • Access to car parks 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 4 will be available from the Shinfield Road entrance.
  • Access to car parks 5, 6, 7 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 will be available through the Pepper Lane entrance.
  • You can also use the Upper Redlands Road and Foxhill Gate entrances to access car parks 1A, 2, 3 and 4. 
  • Parking is also now available in the Windsor, Greenow and McCombie, Stenton (including Townhouses), Childs, St Patricks, Sherfield, Northcourt and Benyon halls of residence. If you are unfamiliar with these locations, please see our campus map for details. 

Cyclists and pedestrians:

  • The public footpath which leads from Earley Gate through to Chancellor’s Way and Shinfield Road will remain open for both cyclists and pedestrians through the works.
  • Pedestrians and cyclists can also use the entrances at Upper Redlands Road (via the Windsor Drive entrance) and the Foxhill Gate to enter campus.
  • The footpath along Queen’s Drive from the Shinfield Road entrance will remain open as far as the Estates and Facilities Building.  Diversions will be to the rear of Old Whiteknights House into car park 5.
  • Diversions for cyclists will go through car park 5 and across the Whiteknights House quad before picking up the internal loop road running past car park 8 towards Pepper Lane.

Buses:

  • Claret 21 buses towards Reading town centre will be able to access campus via Pepper Lane, and so will call at the bus stop on Chancellors Way.
  • Claret 21 buses from Reading town centre will still not be able to access the campus – instead, buses will call at the stops at Christchurch Green and Shinfield Road, just to the south of the end of Chancellors Way. They will continue on to Pepper Lane as usual. 
  • Bus users should alight at these stops, walking onto campus from either Queen’s Drive, Chancellors Way or Pepper Lane.
  • Other routes – 3, 3B, 9 and 10 – can also be to and from the town centre from Christchurch Green and Shinfield Road. Please see the Claret route map for full details of nearby services, or the Reading Buses website for all routes.

Why are the works taking place?

The works will rebuild a collapsed and failed section of road, which was identified after the severe weather conditions earlier this year. Carrying out maintenance work now will ensure that the road remains safe for years to come. The project is set to be complete on Friday 21 September.  

The work will be carried out in three phases:

  • Phase 1 (Monday 18 June – Wednesday 1 August): Russell Building to the entrance to car park 5. Road open for use from Tuesday 31 July. View Phase 1 map >>>
  • Phase 2 (Thursday 2 August - Friday 31 August): Car park 5 to halfway across road junction between Old Whiteknights House and Estates & Facilities. View Phase 2 map >>>
  • Phase 3 (Monday 3 September - Friday 21 September): Halfway across road junction between Old Whiteknights House and Estates & Facilities, to end of blue railings opposite the rugby pitch. View Phase 3 map >>>

Please see our original announcement for details of all phases of work –note that work dates given above may differ from those given in our original announcement and work maps, which were correct at time of publication. 

We will continue to post updates as the works progress. 

If you have any queries, please contact Peter Edington (extension 7619).