Highways Agency

M40 Junction 4/ A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvement

M40 Junction 4/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvements.

Introduction

The 1998 Government White Paper "A new deal for transport: better for everyone" together with a document reviewing the strategic road programme: "A new deal for trunk roads in England" also published in 1998, represented a change in the way that transport was to be planned and provided for. "A new deal for trunk roads" made reference to the problems at Handy Cross and identified the need for a study to consider congestion and possible multi modal solutions. This resulted in the Highways Agency commissioning PB Kennedy&Donkin to undertake an Integrated Transport study to examine the problems and identify ways to reduce congestion and improve accessibility at Handy Cross.

Background

The study was conducted under the guidance of a steering group comprising representatives from the Government Office for the South East, the Highways Agency, Buckinghamshire County Council and Wycombe District Council. The study identified a package of measures which were taken to public consultation through public exhibitions, leaflet drops, individual and group discussions.

The final study report, published in January 2001 recommended a package of measures including:

• Short-term improvements, which could be implemented without delay.
• Longer-term improvements designed to segregate long distance and local traffic.
• A range of discrete schemes aimed primarily at traffic reduction, to be carried forward by the local authorities.

Work on designing and allocating funding for the short-term improvements was well advanced by the time the study final report was published and a range of measures were implemented in the early part of 2001 comprising:

• Improvements to the roundabout geometry to maximise existing capacity
• Improvement to carriageway markings to improve lane discipline
• Improvements to the signing of the approaches and on the roundabout
• Replacement of the ageing traffic signal equipment and development of new signal time plans to avoid locking up of the junction.
• Improvements where possible to existing pedestrian facilities.
• Improved traffic signal remote monitoring including the installation of a new CCTV camera.

In November 2001, the Highways Agency commissioned Parsons Brinckerhoff, to review the recommended longer-term improvements for the junction and progress outline design.

In September 2002 the scheme was incorporated into the Targeted Programme of Improvements.

Scheme Location

The M40 / A404 Junction at Handy Cross is situated on the southern outskirts of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. The present junction comprises a traffic signal controlled gyratory forming an interchange between the M40 London to Birmingham motorway, the A404 Marlow Bypass, A404 Marlow Hill, the A4010 John Hall Way and a local road, the C100 (Wycombe/Marlow Road). Immediately to the north of the M40 at Handy Cross, lies the urban fringe of High Wycombe with hotel and retail complexes, residential areas, schools and a sports centre. To the south of the M40 lies a landscape typical of the Chilterns, comprising rolling chalk hills and plateau with numerous dry valleys, classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Map

Scheme Description

The improvements at Handy Cross Junction are intended to address the current acute peak time traffic congestion, by separating long distance and local traffic movements. During the peak hours, there is heavy demand for movements between the A404 Trunk road to the south and the M40.

The following improvements have been developed and recommended:

• Construction of a new 5 lane link road through the northern half of the roundabout to take M40 west to A404 south, and A404 south to M40 east traffic away from the A4010 and C100 nodes on the Wycombe (north) side of the roundabout.
• Provision of a 1km long dedicated slip road from A404 south to M40 west, passing beneath the C100 Marlow Bottom road, including associated bridge up to 20m wide between parapets and up to 22m span between abutments. It will also be necessary to widen approximately 400m of existing 10m high embankment carrying the A404 trunk road. Additional land will be required to construct this part of the improvements, and noise and visual mitigation measures will probably be necessary to protect properties in the vicinity of Handy Cross Farm.
• Widening of the M40 westbound approach and exit slip road from London entering the junction by the provision of additional lanes and widening the A404 exit to the south over approximately 200m, to provide a signal controlled dedicated left turn lane. The carriageway to be widened is carried on embankment up to 10m high and it is anticipated that a retaining structure will be required. It is not intended to acquire additional land for this element of the improvements and the above retaining structure is to be located as close to the widened carriageway as practicable in order to minimise destruction of existing established woodland planting.
• Widening of the A404 north approach to the junction and around the radius to the M40 London bound entry slip. The existing carriageway is carried on embankment approximately 6m high and a retaining structure will be required to support the widening. It is not intended to acquire additional land for this element of the improvements.
• Offside widening of the M40 eastbound exit slip on the approach to the junction to provide up to two additional lanes at the stop line. It is anticipated that the existing berm at the top of the M40 cutting will be wide enough to accommodate the widening without the need for additional engineering measures.

Consultants

HA have only appointed Parsons Brinckerhoff for project development and procurement (appointment of contractor). A consultant will be appointed to act as Employer's Agent to administer the scheme through Public Inquiry and construction.

Project Information

Contractor and Consultants

The scheme has been procured using the Highways Agency's Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) form of design and build contract.

Contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd was appointed in June 2003 and they have employed Hyder Consulting as their designer. The Highways Agency has continued to employ Parsons Brinckerhoff as our agent.

Early Contractor Involvement

The purpose of procuring the scheme through an ECI design-and-build contract was to bring the contractor into the preparation team. This had the benefit of bringing value engineering and buildability to the forefront of any design considerations, and also ensured a team approach to the construction of the project. Early establishment of a preparation, design and construction team ensures that a scheme is thoroughly engineered before starting the statutory processes.

Under Phase 1A of the project the contractor's team developed the scheme through the provision of engineering and environmental specialists who, among other things, looked at detailed proposals for construction. This was a necessary part of the environmental impact assessment and preparation of the Environmental Statement.

Environmental Aspects

The area to the south of Handy Cross is distinguished by its landscape and the diversity of habitats it supports, and is protected by designations of national and international importance. The high quality landscape is part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is also designated as Green Belt.

The construction of the A404(South) to M40(West) dedicated left turn slip road and the bridge on the C100 Wycombe Road will encroach onto the AONB and Green Belt. There will also be a slight adverse effect on the setting of two listed buildings.

The street lighting has been carefully designed to minimize glare and light spillage.

Copies of the Environmental Statement are available from the Highways Agency on request.

Public Inquiry

The necessary legal orders for the scheme were prepared in phase 1B of the project and a Public Inquiry was held in December 2004. The Inspector's Report and Secretary of State's Decision were published in March 2005.

Construction

Phase 2 of the project is the construction phase which started in October 2005 and is due to be completed early 2007.

The Handy Cross junction carries high volumes of traffic and is extremely busy during the morning and evening rush hours. The Highways Agency and contractor Edmund Nuttall will try to minimize disruption to the travelling public. A reduction in available lanes will not be permitted between 6.00am and 9.00pm where possible. Overnight closures of the motorway slip roads will be required to complete the work. This will be restricted to 9.00pm to 6.00am and only one slip road will be closed at any given time. The closures will be well publicised beforehand, and diversion routes will be signed.

Programme

The programme for the development of the scheme is as follows:

Appointment of Contractor - June 2003

Publication of proposals, draft legal orders and Environmental Statement - April 2004

Public Inquiry - Nov/Dec 2004

Publication of Inspector's Report and SoS Decision Letter - March 2005

Start of construction - Oct 2005

Scheme opening - Early 2007

The above timetable may be subject to alteration.