This summer, major improvements will be taking place to the busy Westhorpe Junction, one of the main access points into Marlow. This intersection between the A404 and A4155 is a major traffic pinch-point at busy times, causing general delays and restricting access to the Globe Business Park, a major local economic hub.
So that birds and other wildlife are disturbed as little as possible, Buckinghamshire Council is about to start necessary clearance of vegetation next week ahead of the start of spring. Work begins on Monday 8 February and will last five days. Work will mostly be taking place on the northbound A404 off slip road area, with some minor work on the southbound A404 off slip road. To minimise travel disruption, it will take place using lane closures on the slip roads and on the roundabout during off-peak daytime hours only.
Nick Naylor, Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We’ve now secured the funding for the improvement scheme at Westhorpe Junction, which has been long awaited by the local residents and businesses who have to use this busy A404 interchange. Work will begin in the summer once it’s been given the formal go-ahead by the Council, but in preparation we’re clearing the vegetation now before spring arrives and the birds start nesting”.
The project is being funded by several funding streams including a £1.187 million grant from Highways England Growth and Housing Fund, £550,000 from developers, and with the remaining funds from Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Richard Harrington, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this scheme with funding to support major improvements to Marlow’s Westhorpe Interchange and improve access to and from the Globe Business Park. This is a fantastic opportunity to make it easier to attract new businesses, new skills and new talent to an important business centre with a strong reputation.”
Plans for the changes to Westhorpe Junction were developed following a January 2019 public consultation on local preferences for improving this traffic black spot. The scheme involves the provision of a new left-hand lane on the northbound exit from the A404 dedicated to traffic that needs to turn left into Parkway. To help manage traffic flow at this junction part time traffic signals will also be installed on the roundabout.
