Work underway on £65 million 'green' road improvement scheme » Environment » 24dash.com

A £65 million 'green' project to improve a notorious traffic bottleneck is now underway with recycled and sustainable materials delivered to the site.

The M4 Junction 11 and Mereoak improvement scheme will make it much easier for commuters using the junction to get into Reading and Shinfield, or make their way on to the motorway, but it also has environmental benefits, which have been pledged to ensure the project is constructed in a way that is as green as possible.

The first layer of crushed glass that was put down earlier this month, and marks the official start of the construction works, was 100 per cent recycled glass. 

Other recycled material that will be used to complete the new roads, pavements, cycleways and public transport lanes, includes tarmac, reclaimed stone and crushed brick .

Materials have been sourced to meet the exact amount required for the job so there is no wastage, plus the majority of it has been secured from local companies and buildings so it is not transported for miles – which creates harmful carbon emissions.

Additionally public transport provision will be increased in the area, as the existing motorway bridges will be converted to priority routes for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists – with better footpaths and cycle lanes as well as dedicated bus routes, to encourage more people to get about by foot, bike or bus. 

The project is being led by Reading Borough Council in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, the Highways Agency and contractors Laing O’Rourke. Funding was provided by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Councillor Keith Baker, Wokingham's executive member for highways and transport, said: “This project has taken several years to plan and so I’m pleased to see construction work has now started. Ultimately this scheme will ease traffic congestion in the area and increase public transport capacity for those living nearby.

“The scheme has been purposely planned to ensure it is as green as possible, not only by using locally sourced materials, but by using recycled material like glass, which shows there is more benefit to these improvements than just tarmac and clearer roads.”