Three new 'smart crossings' to be installed on Oxford Road

They are set to be installed over the next three months.

They will replace crossings outside the TA Centre, at Mill Way, and outside Aylesbury College.

They will co-ordinate with each other, and with the Fowler Road junction lights when they are upgraded, and will be integrated into the Aylesbury traffic network to improve traffic flows across the town.

Mark Shaw, County Council Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member, said Oxford Road was an important route into and out of Aylesbury, which attracted a high volume of traffic, causing congestion and delay at peak times.

"We're investing in this scheme to improve the reliability of journey times by reducing congestion and delay, and that's got to be good for residents, businesses and commuters alike," said Mark. "I appreciate the work will cause temporary inconvenience and I hope people will bear with us while we make these improvements."

Work, which will take three weeks at each location, starts at Mill Way on Monday 27 January to replace the crossing and connect it to new control system cabinets. Installation then moves to the college crossing, starting on Monday 17 February, followed by the TA Centre crossing, beginning on Monday 9 March.

The majority of the work will be done with off-peak low speed lane closures between 9.30am and 3.30pm with some night work to complete each crossing.

While work is going on at Mill Way crossing, pedestrians will be advised to use the nearby crossing outside the TA Centre. When work starts outside the college, a temporary staggered crossing will be created opposite Bearbrook Close.

The full improvement scheme, covering the section of Oxford Road from Coldharbour Way roundabout to the roundabout at the junction with Friarage Road, includes:

-Junction improvements

-Pedestrian crossing upgrades

-'Smart' traffic lights that adapt to traffic flows

-New stretches of cycleway and footway

-Real time passenger information

-New double-length bus shelter outside Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School

Work was recently completed on new sections of shared footway and cycleway to Aylesbury's Gemstone cycleways: Ruby Way and Pearl Way have been joined between Mill Way and Gatehouse Road, and Pearl Way and Pebble Way are linked by Pearson Close.

Widening nearly 100yds (90m) of Fowler Road, to provide a left-turn lane into Oxford Road towards the town centre, is progressing this week (w/b 13 January) with the repositioning of kerblines.

The scheme budget is made up of a £2.191m bid from the Government's National Productivity Investment Fund, and developer funding of £500,000.