Temporary Bridge for Reading Festival 2025: river closure notice
Published 23 July 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
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When
Thursday 14 August 2025, 7pm to 12am.
Sunday 31 August 2025, 7pm to 12am.
Where
Caversham reach, Scours Lane (1 mile upstream of Caversham Bridge).
Details
Subject to the appropriate planning permissions being obtained, Festival Republic will be installing a temporary footbridge across the River Thames at Scours Lane, Reading (one mile upstream of Caversham Bridge) for the duration of Reading Festival.
For safety reasons it is not possible to navigate underneath the bridge structure whilst it is being lifted into/out of place and secured. Expect delays of approximately half an hour on both 14 August and 31 August from 7pm to midnight (river conditions permitting) whilst they install and dismantle the bridge.
The temporary closures will be managed by our staff on patrol launches throughout the night. Please follow their instructions. Communications will also be available on marine band VHF Channel 74.
From 14 August to 31 August 2025, masters of all boats should take care whilst navigating in the vicinity of this new structure.
Once in place the bridge’s headway will be 5.35 metres / 17 feet 6 inches at standard headwater at Caversham Lock.
| Bridge headway | |
|---|---|
| New temporary footbridge | 5.35 metres (17 feet 6 inches) |
| Caversham Bridge | 4.56 metres (15 feet 0 inches) |
| Reading Bridge | 5.38 metres (17 feet 8 inches) |