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A5 Milton keynes: Work to reduce the risk of flooding

Government Communications (NDS)

20 January 2012

The project will involve the replacement of filter drains, repairs to drainage pipes and clearing ditches in both directions between the junction with the A4146 Kelly’s Kitchen roundabout and the A422 Abbey Hill roundabout.It is due to start on 24 January and will be completed by 11 March.To allow the work to take place, a series of carriageway, slip road and full road closures will be necessary and a temporary 50mph speed limit will be in force.Much of the work, including all the road closures, will take place overnight to reduce inconvenience to drivers.Highways Agency project manager, Andy Shilliday, said: “This project will improve road drainage along this section of the A5 in Milton Keynes. Although there may be some minor inconvenience caused by the overnight diversions, drivers will benefit from the longer term improvements to the drainage system along this busy stretch of road.”The work will be carried out in phases (all dates are dependent on weather conditions).· A5/A4146 south roundabout (Kelly’s Kitchen) to A4146 north, Caldecotte junction: northbound work 24-27 January and southbound 29 February-13 March.· A4146 north (Caldecotte) junction to A5/A421 (Redmoor) roundabout: northbound work 27 January-1 February and southbound 26 February-5 March.· A5/A421 (Redmoor) roundabout to A5/A509 (Portway) roundabout: northbound work 31 January-13 February and southbound 17-26 February.· A5/A509 (Portway) roundabout to A5/A422 (Abbey Hill) roundabout: northbound work 7-10 February and southbound 15-18 February.A number of overnight complete road closures will be necessary throughout the work and will be publicised in advance. Clearly signed diversions will be in place during the closures.There will also be some overnight slip road closures between 8pm and 6am the following day. The northbound entry slip road slip road at Abbey Hill roundabout will be closed overnight on 2 and 3 February. The northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight on 3 February.During the northbound entry slip road closure traffic will be diverted southbound to exit at Portway roundabout to return northbound on the A5During the southbound exit slip road closure traffic will continue southbound to Portway roundabout to return northbound and exit at Abbey Hill roundabout.Notes to editorsIssued by COI News East on behalf of the Highways Agency. For further information please contact Jenny Thompson on 01223-370784 or 07980-786758. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 020 7081 7443.1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and other strategic roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.For the Highways Agency’s advice to road users this winter, “Make time for winter”, please visit www.highways.gov.uk/winter2. A number of overnight complete road closures will be necessary throughout the works and will be publicised in advance. The diversion routes, which will be clearly signed, will be:A5/A4146 South (Kelly’s Kitchen) roundabout to A5/A4146 North (Caldecotte) junctionNorthbound traffic will be diverted northbound on Brickhill Street to join the A4146 (Bletcham Way H10) westbound and re-join the A5. Southbound traffic will follow the same route in the opposite direction.A5/A4146 North (Caldecotte) junction to A5/A421 (Redmoor) roundaboutNorthbound traffic will be diverted westbound on Bletcham Way to Granby roundabout. Traffic will be directed northbound on Grafton Street (V6) to re-join the A5 at Redmoor roundabout. Southbound traffic will follow the same route in the opposite direction.A5/A421 (Redmoor) roundabout to A5/A509 (Portway) roundaboutNorthbound traffic will be diverted northbound on Grafton Street (V6) to join the A509 Portway (H5) westbound at North Grafton roundabout and re-join the A5 northbound at Portway roundabout. Southbound traffic will follow the same route in the opposite direction.A5/A509 (Portway) roundabout to A5/A422 (Abbey Hill) roundaboutNorthbound traffic will be diverted eastbound on Portway (H5) to North Grafton roundabout and travel northbound on Grafton Street (V6). Traffic will be directed westbound at Bancroft roundabout on Monks Way (H3) to re-join the A5 at Abbey Hill roundabout. Southbound traffic will follow the same route in the opposite direction.3. Maintenance and improvement projects: We plan maintenance and improvement projects carefully to allow road works to be completed safely, in a cost effective way while keeping disruption to road users to a minimum. We do as much work as possible overnight and when roads are less busy in order to keep more lanes open for road users at peak travel times. Drivers are advised to check their route for road works and allow extra time for their journeys where needed. We have a variety of journey planning tools that road users can use to check travel conditions on the roads we manage, and we will do all we can to keep road users informed.4. Safety at roadworks: The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:- Keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety.- Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching.- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.- Be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks.- Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front.- Observe all signs – they are there to help you.5. Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and other strategic roads is available:- From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.- By phone from the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 at any time. (Calls to 0300 numbers will cost no more than 5p per minute from a standard BT residential landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary, but will be no more than a standard geographic call and will be included in all inclusive minutes and discount schemes). Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call. Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.- On an iPhone app which will automatically select the region you are in. Free to download from the iTunes store or search for Highways Agency on your device.- From Twitter – there are eight feeds with live traffic information provided by region. For information on roads in the East follow us at @HAtraffic_east or for the full index visit www.highways.gov.uk/twitter.6. Receive our national and regional press releases by RSS and get the latest headlines straight to your desktop the moment we publish them to our website. Choose to receive a national press feed or one of our regionalised feeds - go to www.highways.gov.uk/rssnews for more information.