Two transport schemes, which are set to benefit residents for years to come, are about to get underway.
The A4 Cycle scheme and the Destination Farnham Road projects have both been fully funded by the Department for Transport. They awarded £10.4m for the A4 scheme and £9,292,149 for Destination Farnham Road.
The A4 Cycle lane project will involve creating a dedicated two-way cycle lane, approximately 2.5 metres wide, which goes the length of the A4 between its junction with the Huntercombe Lane crossroads and Uxbridge Road.
The work will involve improving junctions, resurfacing at accident hot spots, traffic light and pedestrian crossing upgrades, removal of street clutter, landscaping and the addition of average speed cameras, as the limit was reduced from 40mph to 30mph along the A4 in July last year.
The contractor, Volker, expects to start initial site investigation works from today (Monday), with limited impact on traffic. This will be along the A4 (Huntercombe Lane crossroads and Uxbridge Road) and Farnham Road between Cumberland Avenue and A4 Bath Road.
From 12 January, works will begin along the footpath near Bath Road Retail Park towards Dover Road and on Farnham Road between Whitby Road and its junctions with A4 Bath Road/ Tuns junction.
Councillor Paul Kelly, lead member for planning, parking, highways and transport, said: “These works are vital to creating options for travel that are safer and more attractive for cyclists and pedestrians. The project will also lead to junction and signalling improvements, which will benefit drivers.
“The work will be completed in phases and there will be periods of disruption and delays, but truly this is the only chance Slough has got to make these major changes and improvements, as we simply could not afford to do it without this funding.
“I urge residents to bear with us, and we promise to keep them updated with key dates and updates on each phase.”
The Destination Farnham Road scheme covers the stretch of A355 Farnham Road from its junction with Cumberland Avenue to its junction with the A4 Bath Road, though most of the works will be centred around the shops between Cumberland Avenue and Sheffield Road.
It will include:
- a high-quality public space, and a reduced speed limit (20mph), through the main shopping area
- a new off-road, two-way cycle route, upgraded roads and footways, new/upgraded signalised and unsignalised pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities, better street lighting where needed, upgraded bus stops, and new parking facilities, along most of Farnham Road
- improvements to the small park, and changes to the car park, at the junction of Sheffield Road
- widened advisory cycle lanes, and further road improvements, along most of Sheffield Road
- a ‘cycle street’ along most of Furnival Avenue.
Future updates on the schemes will be added to a dedicated webpage on the council's website.