Buckinghamshire Council has warned residents of congestion expected until mid-September as electricity roadworks begin in High Wycombe.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) began a roadworks project on Desborough Avenue this morning (August 19), with multi-way signals in place to manage traffic flow.

The signals will remain in place between 8am and 5pm until Thursday, August 12, while SSEN carries out the upgrade works in what a council spokesperson described as a “significant” scheme which “is likely to cause congestion” in the area.

Speaking earlier this summer, Steven Broadbent acknowledged a “massive increase in the number of roadworks” going on around the county due to “utility firms dealing with ageing pipes and networks needing repairs and upgrades”.

He urged local motorists to check for roadworks before setting out on regular routes, adding: “We work hard to coordinate permits in a way which minimises disruption and we do refuse to issue a permit if the works are too impactful – we refused 10 per cent of permit applications last year.

“(However), these companies have a legal right to access their assets, so with the high level of planned works in the coming months, we’re telling people, if you need to travel on a local road network and to be somewhere by a certain time – please check before you travel, even if it’s a routine journey to school or work.”