Future traffic levels moving through the A421/H8 and the H7 will be higher than current levels so we need to increase capacity at the Monkston and Brinklow roundabouts now to manage traffic flow and reduce congestion.
We're using tariff funding to cover the construction costs. Tariff funding comes from landowners and developers in the expansion areas who pay the council a fixed payment per home or per square metre of employment land to fund essential infrastructure like these roundabouts.
Why traffic signals are required
We would only consider installing traffic signals where they are needed to help improve safety and regulate traffic flow. Whilst the original plan for MK did not include traffic signals, we've now decided to install them at certain points on the network as traffic volumes have increased to a point where significant delays and congestion are more common. Traffic signals help to ensure that each arm of the roundabout has enough time for traffic to move through and vehicles have to slow down for the lights.
Brinklow Roundabout
As a major roundabout on an route in and out of the city to the M1, up to 30,000 vehicles can pass through here each day. The works here are now complete and included:
- new traffic signals
- four new bus shelters
- cut back of vegetation to improve visibility
- road lining refreshed
- resurfacing and other maintenance
You may view the traffic modelling video for Brinklow Roundabout here
Monkston Roundabout
Following extensive assessment, the preferred model for Monkston Roundabout is a 'hamburger' roundabout.
A hamburger roundabout includes a straight road running through its centre. It gets this name because of how it looks from above, the round part if the 'bun' and the straight road is the 'burger'.
The roundabout will be traffic-light controlled, and vehicles going straight on will not have to go all the way around but instead will go straight through following the traffic light directions.
To see how this type of roundabout will work, view our traffic model video here
Work on this roundabout is expected to begin in early 2026.