A40 London Road improvement work in High Wycombe enters a new phase on Monday 20th July 2020
A diagram showing improvements and locations at the Micklefield Road junction. (Image supplied by Buckinghamshire Council)
On Monday 20th July 2020 improvement work is to start at the Micklefield Road junction on the A40 London Road in High Wycombe.
The work will see the existing traffic lights replaced with ‘smart’ signals that co-ordinate with others along the Loudwater to High Wycombe corridor to control traffic flows better.
Improvements also include:
- Widening London Road to improve capacity.
- Realigning lanes.
- Upgrading crossings.
- Removing a bus lane.
In preparation for the improvement works new utility ducting has been installed under the southern footway, to make way for road widening.
Most of the work, which involves lane closures and footway closures with diversions, will be done between 8.00am and 5.00pm. However some night work will be necessary when traffic flows are lower. Temporary traffic lights, which replicate existing signals, will operate while the work is done.
The works are expected to be completed in October 2020, when the new ‘smart’ traffic control system will be tested.
On Monday 27th July 2020, a fortnight of improvement work starts at the Gordon Road junction. During the first week, until Friday 31st July 2020, a short section of Gordon Road will be closed between the roundabout and Princes Gate to allow new cable ducting to be installed. Diversions will be clearly signed.
From Monday 3rd August 2020 to Friday 7th August 2020, the road will be closed between 8.00am and 5.00pm and reopened every evening.
Cars queue at the Micklefield Road junction lights. (Image supplied by Buckinghamshire Council)
The work is part of a £6.6 million Buckinghamshire Council scheme that aims to improve six major junctions along the London Road corridor from Easton Street to Loudwater. The improvement programme includes:
- Linking traffic lights using queue detection technology to help traffic flow better.
- Installing six variable message signs.
- Introducing five dedicated turning lanes.
- Upgrading five pedestrian crossings.
- Installing one new crossing.
Junction improvements at Hatters Lane, Gomm Road and Rayners Avenue have already been completed and traffic light control upgrades at Hammersley Lane will be done by October 2020.
Nick Naylor, Cabinet Member for Transport at Buckinghamshire Council, said: ‘This is an important route in and out of High Wycombe, and I understand people’s frustrations when they get held up by congestion. The new ‘smart’ traffic lights along the corridor will co-ordinate with each other to better manage traffic flow, and make journey times more reliable.
We’ve completed a lot of work, but there’s still a lot to do before we finish later this year, and we’re doing our best to minimise delays. We’ve studied the latest traffic flow information and adjusted our working times to suit, and I hope people will bear with us. If there are delays, please accept our apologies.‘
The A40 London Road corridor improvements project is a partnership project between Buckinghamshire Council and Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership with funding secured from the Local Growth Fund, and DfT’s National Productivity Investment Fund.
*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Council.
