Roadworks hell to return as builders begin new £2.9 million town centre road changes

The second phase of the alternative town route – which follows the widely criticised changes to Oxford Road – aims to improve traffic flow on Desborough Road, without traffic lights or roundabouts.

As part of the changes, the junction of West End Road and Desborough Road will close permanently to vehicles ahead of a new Bridge Street junction being created, with council bosses admitting they hope ‘the gain will be worth the pain’.

The next part of the long-term project is set to start on Monday, September 19, linking Westbourne Street through Desborough Road to a junction at Lily's Walk close to the town's former gas works site.

The scheme will use similar designs as the controversial Oxford Road layout, which opened in December, creating a new roundabout, narrower traffic lanes and wider pavements.

Wycombe's cabinet member for planning and sustainability, said: “The alternative route is a "big picture" project for High Wycombe with significant investment for the town.

“It’s ambitious and will take time to complete. As well as making improvements to the street scene, and creating a new through route, the alternative route will pave the way for other regeneration work in and around the town.

“Whilst the necessary roadworks to create the central element of the route will take some months to complete, we are working closely with BCC [Bucks County Council] to keep Desborough moving.”

The £2.9 million second phase of the project is part of the joint Masterplan scheme by BCC, WDC, and the Local Enterprise Partnership, to give traffic another way through the town centre from Oxford Road to Marlow Hill.

Council bosses say phase two along Desborough Road aims to keep traffic flowing in a slow and steady way without the need for traffic lights or conventional roundabouts, and with fewer signs and white lines.

During the works, traffic lights at the junction will be replaced by temporary signals, and a new pavement created across the mouth of West End Road.

Contractors will then start work outside Guildmaster Court to widen the pavement and create six new parking bays.

Work between Desborough Road and Bridge Street junction, and on the remainder of Westbourne Street, should be completed by Christmas, while changed between the Bridge Street junction and Lily’s Walk will continue in the new year.

Once phase two is finished in August 2017, work will begin on the final phases of the alternative route, including a new link road through the gas works site to Suffield Road, and improvements along Queen Alexandra Road to the Abbey Way gyratory.

Buckinghamshire County Council's transport cabinet member, Mark Shaw, said: “We listened to feedback from residents and businesses during the consultation in July, and the suggestions have helped us further shape the design.

“I fully appreciate there will be some inconvenience while work goes on, and I apologise in advance, but I believe the resulting gain will be well worth the pain.”