24 hour traffic lights for Eastern Link Road junction work

Transport
Progress by contractors with construction of the new Eastern Link Road junction with the A418 at Bierton; inset, Mark Shaw Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member

Contractors working on the new junction for Aylesbury’s Eastern Link Road say that temporary traffic lights will need to be in place 24 hours a day for three weeks from Monday 17 February to complete the works.

The A418 Aylesbury Road junction at Bierton and the northern section of the link road are being constructed by Barratt/David Wilson Homes as part of the new Kingsbrook housing development.

The developers have requested an extension to their permit to allow temporary lights to remain 24 hours a day, along with two overnight closures. They say unforseen circumstances have made it impossible for their contractors, ECL Civil Engineering, to complete the work without extending traffic control.

The 24 hour temporary lights will be manually operated, to balance traffic flows and minimise congestion, from Monday 17 February to Monday 9 March. The two overnight closures will run from 7pm on Friday 20 March to 5am on Saturday 21 March, and again from 7pm on the Saturday to 5am on Sunday 22 March. An alternative route will be signed.

Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member said: “Very reluctantly, we’ve agreed to the request from Barratt’s contractors, to enable them to finish the job. I do appreciate this will inconvenience drivers, and I apologise for this, and we’ve stipulated one of those weeks must fall within the half-term holiday to minimise the impact.

“We’re expecting contractors to be working continuously, to make best use of the time,  and our highways officers will be monitoring the situation closely.”

Jo Alden, Technical Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Thames, said: “We would like to apologise to all those that may be affected by this change and offer our assurance that when in operation, the traffic signals will be permanently manned in order to minimise the disruption caused.”

Prior to the two night closures, letters will be delivered to residents of Rowsham Lane and Hulcott Lane detailing the work, the traffic management arrangements, and from which direction to get to and from their homes.