Following preparatory work carried out earlier this year, work on the upgraded roundabout at the junction of Holyport Road with the A308 Windsor Road is set to take place after a consultation was held last year to propose a solution to meet increased demand from traffic that is expected by 2033.
Based on data from the last five years, this section of the highway was identified as one of the areas with the highest number of incidents across the borough, including a serious crash at the end of 2023 that left a cyclist hospitalised.
After initially proposing to install traffic lights at the key junction at Holyport, the council has acted on the concerns of residents and travellers who responded by calling for upgrades to the existing mini roundabout to reduce congestion and make it easier for vehicles to safely turn onto and out of the key route between Windsor and Maidenhead.
Plans for a larger roundabout are now set to be completed by the end of the summer and will meet both the existing and expected increase in traffic, while making it safer for all road users to use the junction.
Funded by a combination of Local Enterprise Partnership and Community Infrastructure Levy funding, the junction will also include a cycling and walking lanes and informal crossing points as part of the council’s commitment to delivering a cleaner, greener and safer borough.
To make the road improvements as quickly and safely as possible, construction will take place on each third of the roundabout in turn and include three-way lights to manage traffic between January and the end of July.
This winter, utility supplies at the junction have already been relocated ahead of the work that will start in the new year - meaning the new roundabout will take less time in total to be constructed.
While this work progresses, motorists are advised to expect delays and plan their travel accordingly.. Information on live traffic issues and planned roadworks can be found by going to one.network/
Cllr Geoff Hill, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and Customer Service Centre said: “I am excited that the major work to deliver to the new roundabout will start this January, following feedback from local people and partners that clearly called for improvements to make this junction safer for all road users.
“While we are in no doubt that construction will cause delays, we’ve taken steps to reduce the disruption that this project will cause, including minimising the total time the roundabout will take to complete.
“The A308 is a vital corridor connecting Windsor and Maidenhead that is used by thousands of people every day and the improvements we’re making now will deliver significant benefits including improved traffic flow, safe travel and better access by cyclists and pedestrians for years to come.”