Nearly a Year Off the Road, Closure Gets Yet Another Extension

A road junction in Reading that has been closed for almost a year because of major sewer repair has been given another extension, with the latest closure now scheduled to remain in place until 10 October. The junction of Bennet Road and the A33 has been shut since 18 October, following the collapse of a major trunk sewer measuring about 1 metre (41 inches) wide. Since then, the closure has been repeatedly extended through rolling notification. The latest extension means the junction will remain closed until just days before its first anniversary, adding to frustration among motorists and businesses affected by the prolonged work. Thames Water said the repair was making progress and described it as an extremely complex project. A spokesperson said engineers had been working inside the sewer, deep underground, during the previous three weeks. Access Maintained, But A33 Link Remains Closed Access to businesses along Bennet Road has continued to be maintained, but drivers remain unable to travel directly from the road to the A33 junction serving the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Green Park. An exit from Bennet Road onto the A33 southbound was opened in June, providing some relief to road user, although the wider closure remains in place. For drivers who had expected the work to be completed earlier, the latest extension has added to growing frustration. Absolute joke Driver Adam Quanstrom said the closure had already been extended several times. It was supposed to be done on September 10, then it was extended to September 30, and unfortunately it's been extended again, he said. Quanstrom described the situation as an absolute joke, arguing that the prolonged disruption was inconveniencing both businesses and road users. Complex Conditions Underground Thames Water has cited several difficulties encountered during the repair, including the significant depth of the sewer, unstable ground conditions and high ground water levels. Engineers also discovered a high voltage cable that had to be moved, further complicating the project. Two sinkhole were found during investigative work. Because of the conditions, engineers constructed a shaft approximately 10.5 metres (34 feet) deep as part of what the company described as very dangerous work. Thames Water said engineers were expected to complete work inside the sewer shortly before beginning to fill the deep shaft. The company said teams were working 24/7 with the aim of fully reopening Bennet Road by the latest target date. Thousands of Cubic Metres of Work The scale of the preparatory work has also been substantial. According to Thames Water, engineers have excavated more than 250 cubic metres of soil and pumped approximately 190 tonnes of grout through 136 bore holes, reaching depths of up to 14 metres (46 feet). The company said the work was necessary to protect the long term integrity of the road. Thames Water also said extensive investigation and preparation had been required before the actual sewer repair could proceed, with the health and safety of residents, businesses and worker identified as its overriding priority. For motorist, however, the key question remains when the nearly year-long closure will finally come to an end. With the latest notification extending the shutdown until 10 October, the Bennet Road junction is now approaching a full year of disruption.