Highways Agency

Public information leaflet, november 2002

Public Information Leaflet, November 2002

Proposals for Segregating Trunk Road Traffic from Local Traffic Using the Junction

History of the Junction

The present junction was constructed as part of the High Wycombe Bypass in 1967. It was modified in the early 1970s to accommodate the A404 Marlow Bypass.

In the mid 1990s large scale improvement options were considered, including:

• The reconstruction of the junction.
• Construction of a new junction further to the south.

These proposals were subsequently rejected due to the large costs involved and the negative environmental impacts the schemes had on an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty ( AONB) to the south of the M40 motorway.

In 1998 the Government's white paper "A New Deal for Trunk Roads" announced that an integrated Transport Study would be carried out to consider ways of reducing congestion at this busy junction on the trunk road network.

Following extensive public consultation, the Integrated Transport Study reported in 2001 and recommended a package of measures to reduce congestion at Handy Cross.

Recommendations of the Integrated Transport Study

• Short-term improvements to junction - (Implemented in 2002-01).
  Traffic reduction measures:
  • Green travel plans.
  • Travelwise.
  • Cressex Link.
• Safe routes to school.
• Longer-term improvements to segregate long distance and local traffic.
• Outlined opportunities for future parking/coachway proposals.

Short Term Measures Implemented in 2000 - 01

While the Integrated Transport Study investigations were ongoing a number of short term measures were identified at Handy Cross, which were noncontentious and easy to implement. These were designed to prevent the junction from 'locking up' at peak times and included:

• Improvements to the roundabout geometry.
• Improvements to carriageway markings.
• Improvements to signing on junction approaches and on the roundabout.
• Renewal of traffic signal installation.
• Updating traffic signal control software and operation.
• Improved traffic signal remote monitoring including CCTV.

Longer Term Measures

A scheme of segregating local and long distance traffic movements was included in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements in August 2002.

The Highways Agency has appointed Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd. to develop illustrative designs and prepare tender documents for the scheme.

Suitable civil engineering contractors will be invited to submit tenders for the detailed design and construction of the scheme.

M40/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvements - proposed layout
View larger image

Environmental Assessments

• An initial Environmental Assessment has been undertaken for the Handy Cross Junction as part of a review of the longer term measures referred to within the Integrated Transport Study.
• The proposed junction improvements have been assessed to determine the environmental impact it might have on:
  • The Landscape.
  • Drainage / Water Quality.
  • Air Quality.
  • Noise & Vibration.
  • Disruption During Construction.
• To the south of Handy Cross the landscape consists of chalk land plateaux with numerous dry valleys, typical of the Chilterns. It is considered an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and has also been designated Green belt.
• The scheme would result in the removal of a significant amount of existing vegetation and the junction may initially be prominent in views from the south. Substantial belts of proposed tree and shrub planting would in time screen the junction from these views.
• The scheme would result in some loss of habitat adjacent to the existing road corridor. Replacement planting would in time mitigate this loss. Overall it is considered that the effect of the scheme on ecology would be neutral.
• Preliminary investigations indicate that the scheme would not have a direct impact upon any known archaeological or cultural heritage features.

The Problems

• Congestion and long queues
• Conflict between trunk road network and local traffic; as the existing junction serves as:
  • An interchange between M40 & A404(S) Marlow Bypass on trunk road network
  • A Junction with the primary road network - A4010 John Hall Way
  • A Junction with principal road network - A404(N) Marlow Hill
  • A Junction with the local distributor network - C100 Wycombe Rd / Marlow Rd
• High volume of traffic accessing High Wycombe through the junction
  • Acts as the southern gateway to High Wycombe
• Popularity of motor car usage
• Junction locking

Scheme Objectives

• To segregate local traffic from through traffic which uses the A404 to get to and from the motorway.
• To allow traffic approaching the junction from the south, and wishing to go west on the M40, to avoid the roundabout.
• Improve access/egress for High Wycombe.
• Improve north-south accessibility for non-motorised users.

Proposed Improvements

• Link road through the roundabout.
• New dedicated left turn slip between A404 and M40(W).
• Additional lanes to M40 slip roads entering roundabout.
• Additional lane A404(N) to M40(E).

Early Design and Build Advantages

Early appointment of the Contractor will result in:

• Better value for money by ensuring that the scheme is built in the most efficient manner.
• The Environmental Statement reflecting the contractor's chosen method of working.

location plan

Traffic Studies

• A Study has been made of the traffic movements through and around Handy Cross Junction. The diagram (below) shows the complexity of the turning movements in the AM peak period.
  
  Major turning movement diagram for the AM peak period (06.30 - 09.30) at Handy Cross
• Traffic flows have been modelled in a special computer program called PARAMICS which models individual vehicle movements, through Handy Cross and the road network immediately to the north.
• This enables
  • Interaction between the junctions
  • Detailed traffic variation over the peak period to be modelled.
  • Variation in signal timings to be tested.
• The traffic model studies have shown the complex relationship between the local and trunk road network.
• Exit blocking from one junction impacts on the capacity of an adjacent junction to function properly. Consequently a range of improvements to both the trunk road network and the local road network will be required to reduce congestion at Handy Cross and the surrounding area.
• The Highways Agency and Buckinghamshire County Council / Wycombe District Council are now developing various schemes to reduce congestion, which complement the other.

What Happens Next

• Invite Tenders for Early Design and Build Contract Jan 2003
• Award Contract June 2003
• Publish Draft Orders Dec 2003
• Public Inquiry (If necessary) May 2004
• Start of Works Dec 2004
• Road open to Traffic Summer 2006

For further information please contact either of the following:

David Pocknall on 01306 878226
(Project Team Leader)

Phil Barnett on 01306 878481
(Project Manager)

at
Highways Agency
Operations Directorate
Room 2C
Federated House
London Road,
DORKING,
Surrey RH4 1SZ

Or e-mail M40J4handycross@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Handy Cross Junction viewed from the north east