Newbury's River Kennet towpath to close for around seven weeks from January
Work to install new piling is due to begin on 11th January 2027
A well-used towpath in Newbury town centre will be closed for around seven weeks while new piling is installed along the River Kennet.
West Berkshire Council has said the work will begin on Monday 11th January 2027.
The council said the existing steel piling has deteriorated over time, causing sections of the towpath to begin to sink.
It said temporary repairs have previously been carried out in several locations to maintain safety.
Contractor Volker, working on behalf of the council, will install the new sheet piling along the north side of the river.
The work will take place between Northbrook Street Bridge (Town Bridge) and Park Way Bridge (American Bridge).
Similar work will also be carried out on a short section of the south bank near the Peace Garden.
The towpath is used by people walking, cycling and wheeling between the town centre and Victoria Park.
It is also used by boaters and by anglers accessing sites further along the waterway.
The council said the work will be carried out using a floating pontoon equipped with a piling rig.
New sheet piles will be driven into the riverbed in front of the deteriorated piling.
Once the new piling is in place, the old timber capping will be removed and the area between the new and existing piling will be infilled.
New capping will then be fitted and sections of blockwork that form the towpath surface will be relaid.
The work is expected to take approximately seven weeks and will be carried out between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The affected section of towpath will be closed during this time.
An alternative route will be available for people walking and wheeling.
It runs via Bridge Street (Town Bridge), Mansion House Street, Wharf Street, the footway on Park Way Bridge and the ramp at the corner of Victoria Park.
This rejoins the towpath on the east side of Park Way Bridge.
People cycling will need to dismount when using the Park Way Bridge footway, the ramp at the corner of Park Way Bridge and westbound in Mansion House Street.
The council has acknowledged the work will cause some disruption and noise for people living and working nearby, as well as visitors.
It said measures will be put in place to reduce the impact wherever possible, including temporary noise reduction fencing along the north side of the river.
Councillor Stuart Gourley, West Berkshire Council's Executive Member for Environment and Highways, said: "These important works will help safeguard the River Kennet towpath and ensure it remains safe and accessible for everyone who uses it. While we appreciate that the piling process will generate some noise, the improvements will provide a long-term solution and help protect this well-used route for many years to come. We thank residents, businesses and visitors for their patience while the works are carried out."