WORK to install a pedestrian crossing connecting the town centre to The Rye begins tomorrow – another step in the High Wycombe Masterplan.

The A40 eastbound will be reduced from two lanes to one to help reduce the ‘red time’ required to allow pedestrians to cross the road.

The section of road between Easton Street and the gyratory will also be refurbished during the six-week project.

Working hours will be 9.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, with one lane open in each direction at all times. The work is being funded by developer contributions and Wycombe District Council.

Cllr Neil Marshall, WDC’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability, said: "The aim of this new crossing is to create a much better, more people-friendly linkage between the east of Wycombe and the centre, through the Rye.

“The crossing is an important stage in making the town centre more connected and helping to deliver the Masterplan, which sets out the vision for the town centre in the future."

Transport for Buckinghamshire will also begin phase two of the A40 West Wycombe Road upgrades on Monday.

The existing traffic signals on the A40/Plomer Hill junction will be enhanced, with the inclusion of a pre-signal on the westbound approach.

West Wycombe Road between Chapel Lane and Fryers Lane will be resurfaced, as will Plomer Hill up to the railway bridge.

Work will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm, with TfB warning Plomer Hill will need to be closed on at least one Sunday in March.

The resurfacing will take place overnight in the last two weeks of the seven-week project aimed at alleviating the A40 bottleneck.

Janet Blake, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, said: “The Chapel Lane junction already seems to be working better, so I’m looking forward to the completed project that will further improve traffic flow.

“The Rye crossing creates a great link between the town and the Rye, hopefully encouraging residents to walk and cycle more.”

For more information about the projects, visit www.transportforbucks.net