Understand
Woodley railway bridge to close for Sonning Cutting stabilization work
Overview
Network Rail is closing the Warren Road bridge in Woodley from Monday until spring 2028 to stabilise the slopes at Sonning Cutting following previous landslips and disruption in 2020 and 2024. Additionally, the Butts Hill Road bridge will close to vehicles from 9 November until mid-January 2027, remaining open to pedestrians. The works form part of a wider programme running until April 2030 to address aging slopes, vegetation-related instability, and drainage issues on the cutting, which dates back to 1840.
Key points
- The Warren Road bridge in Woodley will close from Monday until spring 2028.
- The Butts Hill Road bridge will close to vehicles from 9 November until mid-January 2027, but will remain open to pedestrians.
- Work involves installing long steel soil nails and high strength steel mesh to stabilise slopes and reduce erosion.
- The project follows landslip incidents in 2020 and May 2024 that disrupted rail services between Reading and London Paddington.
- Network Rail plans to carry out improvement stages in the area until April 2030.