We are investing £120m (over a four-year rolling basis) into our county’s highways. From maintaining the quality of roads, cycleways and footways and trialling innovative, cost effective and sustainable ways to complete repair works, to responding to emergency situations on the network and delivering large infrastructure projects – our teams within the Buckinghamshire Highways Alliance are working hard to make sure the county’s roads are safe and fit for purpose. Please read below for this month’s highways highlight showcasing the latest updates on works taking place across Bucks!
The latest on your roads, cycleways, footways and rights of way
Work continues on repairs and improvements across the county, through our extensive planned programme in response to reports from residents and our own programme of inspections. Over 320 schemes are being delivered this financial year, including significant resurfacing projects, major drainage improvements, footway works and road safety projects on specific sections of the highways.
See below for some examples of the latest repairs, improvements and work on your roads, cycleways, footways and rights of way.
Check before you travel
We know there are a lot of roadworks taking place across the county (a combination of our own programme, works by utility firms, and for external projects such as HS2 and EWR) at the moment which can result in more traffic, longer journey times and diversions.
While the council can control the timing of some roadworks, it is not always possible to plan every piece of work and utility companies are legally entitled to dig up roads to repair their equipment if it is an emergency. To help reduce your chance of getting caught in a traffic jam, remember to check before you travel by using some of our useful tools and tips.
High-profile schemes and projects
Alongside our capital programme of works and our routine maintenance activities, including gully cleansing, weed spraying, and road repairs, Buckinghamshire Highways is also instrumental in supporting larger schemes and infrastructure projects across the county. See below for some examples and updates on the county’s high-profile and major infrastructure schemes.
South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR)
SEALR is a two-phase project being delivered directly by us to help future-proof Aylesbury’s development. This work will also relieve traffic and congestion in Stoke Mandeville. Our work on this key infrastructure project is progressing well with the contract for the main part of the scheme recently awarded.
Once complete, SEALR will form a crucial part of a new Orbital Link Road around Aylesbury providing a new route around the town. This will bring huge benefits to residents and businesses – reducing congestion, improving the environment and facilitating housing and job growth in and around Aylesbury.
Most recent works include temporary traffic management arrangements for use of the Wendover Road roundabout and consideration of trees and public spaces in upcoming works; bridge related works including vegetation clearance and the construction of haul roads and piling platforms; construction of the lower layers of road on Lower Road as well as ducting for underground street lighting and traffic signals.
Read the latest full update on SEALR.
Learn more about the project, including; location of works, project aims and benefits, and upcoming works by visiting New road: South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR). And for all the latest updates straight to your inbox, sign up to receive the SEALR bulletin.
SEALR - Wendover Road roundabout showing East half open to traffic.
SEALR East of railway line sheet piling and piling platform.
White Hart Street
In October, works to improve carriageway and footway surfacing started in White Hart Street, High Wycombe. It’s part of a package of significant investment in High Wycombe Town Centre. We have allocated £3.1m to enhance the layout and appearance of White Hart Street with new paving, seating and landscaping, introducing more greenery and establishing a more continuous theme with surrounding walkways through the town.
Construction works will take place from the end of October 2024 until the end of March 2025.
Most recent works include carriageway and footway paving along the eastern section of the scheme. The works will now continue without pause, through to completion scheduled at the end of March 2025.
Read the latest full update on White Hart Street.
Learn more about the project, including; impact on the area, project aims and timings by visiting Public realm improvements: White Hart Street, Wycombe.
Computer generated intepreration of White Hart Street.
Marlow Bridge restoration and improvements
In spring 2025, we'll start an extensive programme of restoration and improvements to the full length of Marlow Bridge (which is a Grade I listed structure). These are routine works, with the last major works completed between 1965 and 1966.
The bridge is an iconic part of the town, but over time it has suffered from wear and tear. These works are important to preserve the bridge for the future and our key priorities are to:
- ensure it continues to be safe for road users and pedestrians
- preserve the features of the bridge, considering the Grade 1 Listing
- ensure it continues to have structural integrity
Read more about how we’re working with local heritage teams and partners, and the planned phases of major maintenance works on Marlow Bridge.
Help us improve Buckinghamshire’s roads
During the autumn and winter seasons, our main focus is ensuring the roads are safe for all road users and responding where needed to the impact winter conditions can have on the county's road network. We continue to attend to road defects including potholes, and provide repairs - some around the clock, seven days a week - but when the weather is particularly cold or wet, this may mean temporary or emergency repairs being undertaken until the weather conditions improve.
Did you know? Priority routes are gritted when road surface temperatures – which can be up to 5°C cooler than the air temperature – are predicted to drop below 0.5°C. These temperatures are lower than the air temperatures you may see on weather apps and weather forecasts – so gritting will happen even if the air temperatures are predicted to stay above freezing.
Even if travelling on gritted routes, remember to take extra care when driving as roads may still be icy; temperatures can drop after rain or the salt that has been spread can be blown away by wind or washed off by rain. If temperatures drop below -8°C even gritted roads won’t be able to stop ice from forming. Check to see which routes are gritted.
You can help us improve our roads, cycleways and pathways by:
- Continuing to report any issues to FixMyStreet – Fix My Street allows you to report a problem on a street/road in Buckinghamshire or track the progress of reported issues. You can report potholes and other defects in the road, such as problems with trees, streetlights, flytipping, flooding, street signs and more. We require you to enter the postcode or street name of the area, locate the problem on a map, and provide details of the problem. Once confirmed, we’ll be able to see your report, get it to the right person or team so they can investigate.
- Creating an account for One.Network - a great system for showing road closure information, seeing which roads have the most disruption and for receiving alerts from any areas or roads that you want to set-up as being important to you . One Network is available and accessible to everyone. See also how you can check before you travel, to avoid getting stuck in a jam.
- Thinking about other ways to travel? We have some excellent and sustainable ways to travel in Bucks. From using public transport and our on-demand bus services (Wycombe PickMeUp and VillageConnect: Aylesbury), to signing up to a car share scheme or making use of our walking, cycling and wheeling routes across the county. There’s some useful links below to help you travel more sustainably.
View more about our highways network:
- How to travel more sustainably
- View walking, cycling and wheeling routes in Buckinghamshire
- E-scooter trials in the county
- Using public and community transport, including our two on-demand minibus services: Pick Me Up (in High Wycombe, run by Carousel Buses) and Village Connect (in Aylesbury, run by We Move)
- Bus travel offers and discounts