Following a Cabinet funding decision yesterday, Buckinghamshire Council has taken another step forward in the construction of the South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR), with this key infrastructure project due to open to traffic in 2026.

SEALR will see the construction of 1.1 miles of dual carriageway including three new roundabout junctions. SEALR is an essential part of the Orbital Link Road which, when completed, will provide a route around Aylesbury, easing congestion through the town centre. The new link road will join the A413 Wendover Road with the Stoke Mandeville Relief Road, which is being constructed by HS2 Ltd.

The council is coordinating the SEALR scheme with the project being delivered in phases. Construction works on Wendover Road and Lower Road have already started to deliver two new roundabouts. Work will then continue to link Lower Road with the new Stoke Mandeville Relief Road and the future South West Aylesbury Link Road.

Later in the year, the council plans to start the work connecting Wendover Road and Lower Road, which will include the construction of a new bridge over the railway line.

Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, said:

“Buckinghamshire urgently needs the right infrastructure in place,so it’s great news that we’ve been able to approve the delivery of the South East Aylesbury Link Road.

“The scheme is the lynch pin of the Aylesbury Orbital Link Road strategy, which will reduce the number of vehicles travelling through the town centre. It is also a crucial project that will accommodate traffic growth in the future.

“Despite price inflation for all major infrastructure projects, we now have firm contractor costs for the SEALR project. Our Cabinet decision bridges the funding gap for this complex project without any cost to the taxpayer, thanks to the allocation of external funding. We continue to remain committed to working with third parties to deliver the Eastern Link Road (South), the Southern Link Road, and the South West Aylesbury Link Road.”

For more information on SEALR and to sign up to regular e-bulletins, visit:www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/sealr