Work will start today on the next phase of High Wycombe's new alternative route - but drivers are being warned that the roadworks will cause congestion in the town centre. 

The stretch of Queen Alexandra Road from Marlow Hill roundabout to the beginning of Suffield Road will see new low profile kerbs, narrowed traffic lanes, a central reservation, new pavements and road surfacing added, at a cost of £2.3 million.

The works, due to finish next summer, are part of the project to create a new route through High Wycombe, linking the A40 Oxford Road with Marlow Hill roundabout, which began with the creation of a controversial new junction with Westbourne Street in December 2015.

During the work, access to High Wycombe CofE School, Wycombe Hospital and for emergency vehicles will be maintained, and temporary traffic lights or 'Stop-Go' boards will be used instead of daytime road closures. 

The Queen Alexandra Road improvement will eventually link with Desborough Road in Spring 2019 once developer Inland Homes has completed structural and foundations work on the town's old gasworks site and built the final 100 metres of road.

Mark Shaw, BucksCounty Council's deputy leader and transport cabinet member, said: "We can't do road improvements without a bit of disruption and I apologise in advance for this. I'm sure the long-term gains will be worth the short-term pain."

The Alternative Route scheme - part of High Wycombe Masterplan - is a joint project between Buckinghamshire County Council, Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership.