Resurfacing on a major High Wycombe roundabout will get underway next weekend - and transport bosses have put a ban on all other roadworks in the area in a bid to minimise traffic chaos. 

Handy Cross roundabout and all exits including Wycombe Road, A4010 John Hall Way, Marlow Road and A404 Marlow Hill will be affected across three different weekends this month and next. 

The roundabout and all slip roads and approaches will be shut from 9pm on February 16 until 6am on February 19 and then again from February 23 to 26 and March 2 to March 5. 

The work will involve resurfacing, replacing the traffic signal and "census detection loops", renewal of the road markings and studs, and laying anti-skid material at selected areas of the roundabout.

Although Highways England will be carrying out the work, Transport for Bucks (TfB) is preparing for major disruption caused by the closure by putting an "embargo" on all other non-essential roadworks within a ten-mile radius. 

Wycombe District Council has also warned that there is likely to be "significant" delays in the area caused by the works. 

During the closures signed diversions will be in place, mostly using the M40 junctions 3 and 5, the A40, Wooburn Green and Little Marlow. 

Emergency services will have access through the closure, as will TfB gritters and residents but bus routes will be diverted. 

The X80 and 800/850 bus routes – which serve High Wycombe, Marlow and Reading – will be diverted during the weekend closures, and National Express will not be serving the Handy Cross Coachway during the closure. 

TfB will be collaborating with Highways England to "make use of the road closures" and carry out maintenance works like small scale resurfacing, gully clearing, sign cleaning, and street lighting repairs on nearby roads. 

Diversion routes: 

  • M40 northbound traffic for High Wycombe – exit at junction 3 or continue north to junction 5 then travel east along the A40 Wycombe Road
  • M40 southbound traffic for High Wycombe – exit at junction 5 or continue to junction 2, circumnavigate the roundabout, traveling north on the M40 to exit at junction 3
  • M40 northbound traffic for the A404 – exit at junction 3, travel south past Wooburn Green, Well End and Little Marlow, joining the A404 at Marlow
  • M40 southbound traffic for the A404 – continue south to junction 2, circumnavigate the roundabout, travel north to junction 3, exit at junction 3, travel south past Wooburn Green, Well End and Little Marlow, joining the A404 at Marlow
  • A404 northbound traffic for High Wycombe – from Marlow travel east past Little Marlow, Well End, Wooburn Green and the A40
  • A404 northbound traffic for M40 – from Marlow travel east past Little Marlow, Well End, Wooburn Green, then join the M40 southbound at junction 3 – traffic wishing to travel north will need to access the northbound carriageway at junction 2
  • Wycombe Road traffic for High Wycombe or the M40 – travel south to Marlow, then east past Little Marlow, Well End, Wooburn Green, joining the M40 southbound at junction 3 – traffic wishing to travel north will need to access the northbound carriageway at junction 2
  • High Wycombe to the M40 – travel on the A40 north or south to access the M40 at junction 5 (for northbound) or junction 3 (for southbound)
  • High Wycombe to the A404 – travel south on the A40 towards junction 3, then travel south past Wooburn Green, Well End and Little Marlow, joining the A404 at Marlow