Virtual ‘first’ for Crest Road junction plans
Improvement plans for a busy Cressex junction in High Wycombe will go on public display in a virtual exhibition room – a first for Buckinghamshire Council.
The coronavirus lockdown restrictions meant the council was unable to plan its normal ‘drop-in’ exhibition, where people could see plans, ask officers questions, and provide feedback, as part of a formal consultation.
Instead, preliminary designs for the conversion of the Crest Road/John Hall Way roundabout, to a junction controlled by traffic lights, will be available to view from today (Friday 24 July) in a special online exhibition room featuring a 3D computer-generated image of the junction at https://crestroad.virtualconsultation.co.uk/ where residents will be able to ask questions through Live Chat.
The proposed installation of traffic lights aims to improve the junction’s capacity and create a better traffic flow, ahead of the development of ‘Cressex Island’ – land bounded by Crest Road and John Hall Way. Proposals include an Aldi supermarket and a McDonalds drive-through fast food outlet.
The junction will include new Toucan crossings for cyclists and pedestrians, widening the road, new traffic lanes, resurfacing and landscaping. But high on the agenda is a new 600 metre shared cycleway and footway running from Handy Cross roundabout to Holmers Farm Way roundabout, linking two existing cycle routes.
Nick Naylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Of course, we want to create more capacity for traffic and reduce congestion, but it’s also important to make it easier for residents, many of whom have been cycling for exercise during the lockdown, to use their bikes around the area.”
Nick said it was important that as many as possible saw the preliminary designs and provided the council with feedback. “We want to get this project right from the start, so we need to make sure we’ve got maximum feedback from residents and businesses.”
The consultation runs from Friday 24 July to Friday 14 August and a printed feedback form is available by calling 01296 387984. Detailed designs and costings will be completed once consultation feedback has been considered.
