Drivers call for 'radical solution' to A404 gridlock around Marlow

Drivers between Maidenhead and Marlow have called for changes on an arterial road they say causes ‘chaos’ whenever there is an incident.

There have been ‘major hold-ups’ on the A404 between Maidenhead and Marlow due to incidents that brought police to the scene multiple times.

Emergency vehicles ‘found it difficult’ to reach the motorists and delays were noticeable around the Marlow and Cookham bridges. Queues stretch back as far as the Bisham roundabout.

Maidonian David Marks, who travels to Marlow regularly, is one driver who has expressed frustrations. He labelled this part of the A404 ‘not fit for purpose’.

Last Thursday (May 18) he described how traffic was ‘just stopped’ around this stretch of the road, with problems particularly noticeable in the previous seven days.

Although part of the problem was caused by a collapsed sewer system at the end of Gossmore Lane in Marlow (logged on May 9), David says the problem is far from temporary.

“There’s probably a backlog at least once a month,” he said.

“As soon as something happens on that A404, there’s no way for emergency to get there and sort things out – and no where for anyone who’s got a problem to stop or pull over,” he said.

“Anything that happens there is going to cause a major incident.”

He said that since that is a significant stretch of road, ‘it shouldn’t be in the state it’s in.’

“It should be motorway standard,” he said. “It is about time the Highways Agency did something about this vital connection between the M4 and M40.

“I think they have to come up with a radical solution.”

Other users of the road joined a chorus of voices on social media platform Nextdoor, branding the stretch ‘chaos.’ In some cases, hold-ups lasted up to 50 minutes.

One compounding factor is the traffic around the Bisham roundabout especially at peak times. Already a busy route, incidents make it notably worse, say residents and drivers.

Some have suggested a hard shoulder or more laybys for vehicles in trouble to pull off the A404.

A National Highways (formerly the Highways Agency) spokesperson said:

“National Highways is currently investigating potential improvements at the A404 Bisham junction, for potential inclusion within a future Road Investment Strategy.

“We assure you that the insights and recommendations provided by this study will be acknowledged in our decision-making process.

“It is important to note that our pipeline schemes are not committed for development at this stage.”