Work starts on high priority Beaconsfield relief road
Relief road plan: The new road starts from a new roundabout link with Maxwell Road and meets the southern section at Minerva Way. Photos courtesy Buckinghamshire County Council.
Preliminary work starts today (Monday 4 June) on the northern section of Beaconsfield’s new relief road, one of Buckinghamshire County Council’s high priority investment schemes.
Contractor Balfour Beatty has been commissioned to check the land for any archaeological evidence before construction work starts in July.Only whenartefacts have been recovered and logged can construction on the half mile (940 metres) northern section of the road start.
The road will run from a new roundabout at Maxwell Road, to link with a southern section being built by developer Inland Homes, from Pyebush Roundabout on the A40 to Minerva Way, on the emerging Wilton Park housing estate.
When completed in summer 2019, the new stretch of A355 will relieve congestion at London End roundabout, and provide a more direct link for traffic bound for the M40 and Slough.
The relief road improvement project is one of Buckinghamshire County Council’s high priority schemes, with a £9.2 million budget, funded by £3.1m from the Local Transport Board (LTB) and by a£6.05m grant from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP).
Mark Shaw, Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member, said the plans had been scrutinised by community groups and other local stakeholders at an options workshop in 2016, from which feedback had helped shape the final scheme.
“This is an important milestone on our journey to reduce traffic congestion in Beaconsfield old town and improve life for residents and businesses,” said Mark. “This is yet another major investment in Buckinghamshire’s roads, and I’m really pleased we’re moving ahead with the scheme.”
Richard Harrington, BTVLEP Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to see this BTVLEP supported road scheme commence, which aims to improve the resilience and performance of Buckinghamshire’s local highway network, and enhance strategic north/south connectivity for the county.”
Richard added: “Without these necessary improvements to road infrastructure there is a risk that the county could be put at a disadvantage in terms of transport access across the county and the knock effects to economic growth.”