Highways Agency

M40 Junction 4/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvement

Q. Will there still be congestion despite the Highways Agency's efforts to separate local traffic from the through traffic?

A. Queue lengths will be made much shorter by the provision of the new dedicated slip road between the A404 (South) and the M40 (West), as well as by the new traffic lanes through the northern half of the existing roundabout. In addition, the timing of the traffic lights on the junction will be adjusted to reduce the queue lengths even further.

Q. How will the new junction make it easier to travel into and out of High Wycombe?

A. Separating local traffic from through traffic will make access through the roundabout easier. More room at the stop lines will also let more vehicles onto the roundabout at the busiest times of the day. This will reduce journey times and make the queues shorter.

Q. What will you do to reduce congestion when this junction is at full capacity in five years time?

A. The junction will not be at full capacity in five years time. The design of the improvement scheme has been based on the traffic levels that have been forecast in fifteen years time. Our analysis shows that the improved junction will not go above its full capacity during the design life of fifteen years.

Q. How will any future house building programmes at Handy Cross affect traffic at this junction?

A. Any future housing developments in the High Wycombe area that are in the Local Plans and Strategic Plans have been included in the forecast yearly traffic levels that have been used to design the scheme.

Q. What are you going to do about the junction getting blocked by traffic?

A. The traffic lights on the junction will be phased to make sure that the roundabout does not get blocked.

Q. What affect will this scheme have on the environmentally sensitive land around the junction?

A. The new junction has been carefully designed to minimize the effect that this scheme will have on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This design includes landscaping and additional planting.

Q. How much land will the scheme take, and how will this impact on surrounding vegetation?

A. The amount of land taken is shown on the Scheme Layout Plan. The scheme is taking as little land as possible by building the widening on the slip roads inside the existing highway boundary. For the A404 to M40 dedicated slip road a landscape bund and additional planting is proposed to lessen the impact on the surrounding landscape.

Q. What will the changes mean for road users?

A. Waiting times at the junction will be less. This will be noticed especially at peak times when there will be large drops in the queue lengths on the John Hall Way, A404 Marlow Road and the M40 slip roads.

Q. It seems that the junction design is only for motor vehicles. What is being done for cyclists and pedestrians?

A. The design includes a safe pedestrian/cycle route through the junction. This crosses the roads at the stop lines of the roundabout and is controlled by traffic lights.

Q. How much more capacity will the scheme give at the junction?

A. The junction improvements have not been designed for a specific increase in capacity. The improvements are designed so that the junction will operate efficiently with the amount of traffic that has been forecast will exist in fifteen years time.

Q. What are the Highways Agency, Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council doing to reduce traffic in the area? Is it just wishful thinking, as people will still want to use their cars?

A. We have been talking with WDC and BCC about the implementation of the Integrated Transport Plan and the development of this scheme. We know about other schemes (John Hall Way, Marlow Hill and Cressex Link), which both WDC and BCC are promoting and we are working with them to help with their implementation.

Q. How has using Early Contractor Involvement helped to develop the scheme?

A. By using ECI we have been able to use the contractor's knowledge and experience in the design process. This has meant that the design process could be more streamlined and efficient.

Q. Will you change your designs after hearing any comments at the Start of Works exhibition?

A. Before the Start of Works Exhibition in October 2005 there was extensive public consultation, which led to a Public Inquiry in November 2004. The proposals were developed and changes made as a result of the public consultation. The Start of Works exhibition was not meant to look for any further changes to the proposals, but to let the public know about the final proposals and the programme for construction.

Q. How long do you think the tailbacks will be during the works? How long will people be queuing for?

A. Most of the works will take place on land outside the existing carriageway. Where work is required on the carriageway it will be carried out, where possible, during off-peak periods and at weekends. While we aim to keep disruption to a minimum, it is inevitable that the work will occasionally impact upon journey times.

Q. What are the planned diversion routes whilst the works are happening?

A. There will be occasions when we will have to close slip roads and the roundabout to carry out works. This will be carefully planned to minimize disruption and existing diversion routes will be used. These will be signed clearly and advertised well in advance.

Q. What is the timetable for the works?

A. The works programme is seasonally dependent, but the main items are:

1. excavation and fill operations for the link road and the cross-link will happen in the summer months to lessen the effects of poor weather
2. the new bridge for the old road to Marlow (Wycombe Road (C100)) will be built during the winter/spring months
3. the installation of sheet piles to the southeast and northeast walls (the M40 westbound exit slip road/A404 southbound, and the M40 eastbound on slip road/A404 northbound) will be carried out during the winter months to keep disruption to Handy Cross Farm's operations to a minimum.

Q. How long will the scheme take to finish? Is it still 12 to 15 months?

A. The total time is approximately 15 months. Currently road opening is programmed for April 2007.

Q. How bad will the works be for drivers and how will the works be managed to reduce those effects?

A. The contract restricts the contractor from working during peak times in the mornings and afternoons. Some of the most disruptive works will be carried out next spring/summer when the roundabout is resurfaced. This work will mean that there will be lane closures from Friday night through until Monday morning. Careful design and implementation will make sure that:

1. disruption to traffic is kept to a minimum
2. the site is kept tidy and well organised
3. work areas and accesses are clearly defined
4. the time for setting out and removing of lane closures is kept to a minimum
5. off-peak, weekend and night time lane closures are used to reduce disruption
6. there is consultation with the local authorities and the police in order to agree and co-ordinate traffic management
7. a dedicated safety officer will be on site. The safety officer will be responsible for controlling all aspects of traffic management, including advising local and national radio stations
8. the local public will be kept informed through local radio and letter drops

Q. What are the statistics about how much traffic currently uses the different parts of the junction?

A. The traffic statistics are:

• A404 southbound 27,900 vehicles per 24 hour day
• Wycombe Road southbound 4,800 vehicles per 24-hour day
• M40 westbound slip road 11,000 vehicles per 24-hour day
• John Hall Way northbound 11,000 vehicles per 24-hour day
• Marlow Road northbound 7,600 vehicles per 24-hour day
• Marlow Hill northbound 11,600 vehicles per 24-hour day
• M40 eastbound slip road 19,100 vehicles per 24-hour day

Q. Is there anything planned for the A404 that will improve that road? After all, it is almost a 'mini motorway' linking the M40 with the M4.

A. If we can secure the funding we hope to carry out a Route Management Strategy for the A404 next year. This would look at the problems at the Bisham roundabout and elsewhere along that route.