The three lanes of the bridge linking Reading to Caversham will be reduced to two during off-peak hours.

Simon Shean, Reading Borough Council’s highways manager, said between 9am and 4pm the bridge would be running two lanes only and this time was set to be reduced to 9.30am and 3.30pm in the run-up to Christmas.

He told councillors at a transport committee meeting at the start of the month the work appeared to be a “rush job” but the £3million pounds from the Government, topped up by £1million from the council coffers, had to be spent within a set time frame or it would be withdrawn.

He added: “Ideally, we would not be doing this in December, so near Christmas.”

He added that night work was ruled out because of the noise and the fact contractors were working above water and at a height, making it hazardous.

The council’s network manager Simon Beasley said traffic controls around the town had been upgraded to be more reactive to cope with pinch points in traffic including the much maligned work at Gosbrook Road and George Street.

He said: “Work carried out throughout the year has been complimentary to the work on the bridge.

“We can’t do much at peak times as the whole of Reading is busy. But we do have the technology behind us now to react to situations.”

The elements are slowly eroding the structure that has started crumbling in places — compromising the strength of the bridge and its appearance.

Water has been seeping into the concrete through soil packed behind the support struts of the bridge on the Caversham side leaving stalactites forming on the ceiling of the underpass.

Mr Shean said: “The work we are doing now — and there has been a lot going on around the town — is work that is going on in this financial year.

“We have got to get the job done in 2015 and it is our only opportunity to do it.”

Scaffolding will be erected on the underside of the bridge in sections and will be covered in a carbon fibre reinforced polymer, which will then be coated with concrete and painted.

Mr Shean said: “People should not notice much difference in the bridge except that it is nice and clean.”