A NEW relief road in Arborfield has been officially opened for the first time this week.

Observer Way, connecting the A327 Reading road and the A327 Eversley road, was officially opened to the public on Monday, November 16.

The road has been constructed in the hopes of reducing congestion in the area, as well as creating more opportunities for sustainable travel.

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Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways said: “The road opening is such an achievement and I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in making this happen.

"This project finished on budget and on schedule, despite having the major disruption of a global pandemic halfway through."

"It has been a long journey from the abstract early strategic plans, collaboration with our residents, to the construction of the road, pathways and the green bridge over the last year.

"There has been a lot of change in the borough over recent years, through development of new communities and we are committed to ensuring the infrastructure we need is built at the right time and in the right places."

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The key features of the new relief road include a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, a wildlife-friendly green bridge for ramblers and horse-riders, and a memorial stone in tribute of the Arborfield Royal Observer Corps who manned the nearby observation post from 1936.

Cllr Jorgensen added: "The council is investing £1billion in a wide range of infrastructure including new schools, open spaces and leisure facilities, community facilities and roads to ensure our new communities have what they need to thrive."

For more information, visit news.wokingham.gov.uk/news/.