Work to start on sustainable travel scheme in Bath Road, between Burnham and Taplow in April 2019

In April 2019 work will start on the planned sustainable travel scheme in Bath Road, between Burnham and Taplow.

The £2.2 million scheme includes a 1.8 mile shared footway and cycleway, with electronic real-time passenger information installed at seven bus stops along the route.

The scheme will connect with national and local cycle networks, give bus passengers up to the minute information about their connections and encourage more people to walk or cycle to and from rail stations served by new Crossrail services when they start.

From Monday 1st April 2019 utility companies move in to realign cables and ducts before Transport for Buckinghamshire starts construction work three weeks later on widening the footway and upgrading pedestrian crossings. Passenger information displays and shelters were installed at seven bus stops on the main route from Mill Lane to Huntercombe Lane last autumn.

While utility work is under way, temporary lights will control traffic at various points – one location at a time – along the route, normally between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Since the scheme’s initial public consultation in autumn 2016, plans have been modified in response to residents feedback, particularly concerns about a proposed right turn ban at the Bath Road junction with Berry Hill and the use by cyclists of the proposed 7ft wide footway/cycleway under Bath Road railway bridge.

Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member said: ‘We’ve listened to residents concerns, and we’ve made as many modifications as we can within the budget and within safety standards, and I’m confident this scheme will be a strong support to our sustainable travel aspirations.

I appreciate the work may cause some inconvenience, and I apologise in advance, however I believe the short term pain will be worth the long term gain.‘

The scheme is being funded largely by a ring fenced Government local growth funding through Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP) with support from developer contributions and the County Council’s capital maintenance programme.

The work is scheduled to take 32 weeks and it is expected the scheme will be completed by the end of November 2019. Progress reports will be posted on the project website at https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-projects-and-improvement-schemes/a4-sustainable-travel-scheme/.