Work on a High Wycombe road is set to restart next month as part of the controversial Alternative Route project. 

The southern end of Westbourne Street will close for ten days during the Easter school holiday to complete work on narrowed traffic lanes and a new central reservation to keep traffic flowing slowly and steadily.  

The work, which starts on April 3, will also include new pavements and road surfacing.

Signed diversions will direct traffic through Desborough Avenue and Bridge Street between April 3 and 13.

Ahead of the work, the junction of West End Road with Desborough Road will close permanently from March 17 to allow the Bridge Street junction to "work safely and reduce congestion."

Access to houses and car parks in West End Road will be through West End Street.

The works are part of the project to create a new route through High Wycombe, linking the A40 Oxford Road with Abbey Way gyratory, and include a new road through the town's old gasworks site.

Work in progress in Desborough Road from Westbourne Street to Lily’s Walk will be completed this summer.

Mark Shaw, Bucks County Council's transport cabinet member, said: "I understand road closures, however short and planned, create inconvenience.

"We're trying to keep this to a minimum and I hope residents and traders will accept our apologies in advance." 

The Alternative Route scheme - part of High Wycombe Masterplan - is a joint project between Bucks County Council, Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership to make the town centre more attractive and "people-friendly".