Work has started on 18 road safety improvement schemes across Buckinghamshire, as part of a £1.3 million programme funded through the third phase of the HS2 Road Safety Fund.
The improvements are designed to address the impact of HS2 construction activity on local communities, providing safer roads, better pedestrian facilities and improved accessibility in areas affected by the major rail project.
The programme includes a range of measures, from traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements to new footway facilities, village gateway features, signage and parking restrictions.
Among the schemes are traffic calming measures in Edgcott, Grendon Underwood, Ashendon, Padbury, Gawcott, Quainton and Steeple Claydon, alongside improvements to pedestrian facilities in Chilton and at Twyford Church of England School.
Other projects include a new traffic island and improved bridleway surfacing at Calvert Green, footway improvements and lighting in Rowsham, and parking restrictions along Baker Street in Waddesdon.
In the Chilterns area, village gateway features and signage are planned for Holmer Green and South Heath, while The Lee will benefit from traffic calming signs and road markings. Footway improvements, signage and road markings are also planned for London Road in Great Missenden.
At the A413 Kings Road in Chalfont St Giles, the scheme will address an existing informal pedestrian crossing point.
Buckinghamshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Thomas Broom, said:
“We know many communities across Buckinghamshire continue to be impacted by HS2 construction work, so it’s good to see work now starting on another package of improvements that will make local roads safer and more accessible for residents.
“These schemes put the needs of our residents first. From new pedestrian crossings and traffic calming measures to pavement improvements and clearer signage, they respond directly to the challenges local communities are experiencing and will help make journeys safer and easier.”
He added that the £1.3 million investment formed part of almost £4 million secured for Buckinghamshire to support communities most affected by HS2 construction activity, delivering lasting benefits long after construction of the railway has finished.
The latest programme builds on two previous rounds of the HS2 Road Safety Fund, which have already delivered 29 schemes across the county.
Buckinghamshire has secured a total of £3.95 million through the fund, which was established by the Government to address road safety issues created or made worse by the construction of HS2.
The first tranche, worth £1m, was released in 2021 and delivered 17 schemes. These included pedestrian crossings, traffic calming, improved junction visibility and new footway provision.
A further £1.6m was made available in 2022, resulting in 12 completed schemes, including additional pedestrian crossings, speed indicator devices and traffic calming measures.
For the third tranche, 24 schemes were submitted for consideration, with 18 approved by the HS2 Road Safety Fund Project Board in 2025 following assessment by Buckinghamshire Council’s highways, HS2 and road safety teams.
The council says the focus of this latest round has been on delivering a greater number of smaller-scale improvements to benefit as many communities as possible.
With design work, surveys, consultation and procurement now completed, construction is under way, with most of the schemes expected to be finished by spring 2027.
The programme represents a further investment in the local highway network, helping communities manage the legacy of HS2 construction while improving safety and accessibility for motorists, pedestrians and other road users.
(Picture: Buckinghamshire Council)
