Early work in quest to ease business park congestion

Early ground investigations start on Monday (18 May) as part of the design of proposed improvements to two junctions near Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe.

Contractors will check the condition of the drainage system, dig trial holes to establish the location of utilities, and test the condition of the road foundations under the top end of Desborough Avenue, around the junctions with Marlow Road and Lancaster Road.

The work is a part of Buckinghamshire Council’s continuing aim to improve traffic flow in and out of the business park, to reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability.

Work will be done from 7am and 5pm between Monday 18 May and Wednesday 27 May, using a lane closure with two-way and three-way temporary traffic lights. Contractors will work at Lancaster Road junction on 18, 19, 26 and 27 May, and at Marlow Road junction on 20, 21 and 26 May.

The investigation works will be managed to minimise delays and the aim, says the Council, is to keep inconvenience to a minimum for residents and businesses in the area.

Nick Naylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “I understand the difficulties of getting to and from Cressex Business Park in the rush-hour, which is why we’re continuing to work with companies there to find ways to relieve the congestion. These works are preliminary investigations to see what’s under the surface, and we’re trying to get them done now while traffic is lighter, but inevitably there’ll be some disruption, for which I apologise in advance.”

Last year the Council improved the crossroads junction at Cressex Road/Cressex Link Road, giving north-south priority to business park traffic to reduce queues, especially at evening peak times.

The Council also supported a new bus route linking Handy Cross with the business park, which started last July. The aim was to encourage business park workers to leave their cars at Handy Cross and catch the bus, to relieve congestion.