Junction improvement work starts on the A40

Important upgrades to two junctions along the A40 London Road in High Wycombe will be done during the next fortnight as part of a Buckinghamshire County Council plan to help reduce congestion and improve traffic flows.

Work starts on Thursday (28 November) at the Gordon Road junction installing dropped kerbs and tactile pavements in preparation for the installation of a new puffin pedestrian crossing across Gordon Road the following week (2-6 December).

At the King’s Road junction during the first week in December a new pedestrian refuge island will be installed.

Three-way off-peak temporary traffic lights will operate at the Gordon Road junction from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Thursday and Friday, while traffic queue detectors are installed in the road.

At King’s road junction temporary lane closures will be managed using manual ‘stop-go’ signs to allow traffic flows to be co-ordinated as well as possible with the nearby Gomm Road traffic lights.

Footway closures will also be needed but diversions will be clearly signed.

A County Council spokesman said: “There’s a lot to do and we’ll be working hard to avoid causing too many delays by working at off-peak and night times. I hope people will bear with us and if there are delays, please accept our apologies.”

The works are all part of a £6.6 million junction upgrade package, aimed at reducing journey times and making them more reliable. This includes linking traffic lights using state-of-the-art technology to help traffic flow better, introducing dedicated turning lanes, and renovating pedestrian crossings.

The scheme also includes improvements to bus stops, changes to bus lanes and real-time variable message signs.

Work on the scheme – jointly funded by the County Council from Government grants, and Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership – is expected to finish in summer 2020.