A major scheme to improve travel through Didcot and the surrounding villages has reached another important milestone as Oxfordshire County Council has appointed GRAHAM to deliver the Clifton Hampden Bypass section of the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) scheme.
The appointment is the second of three contracts to be awarded to construct the scheme, which will provide vital transport infrastructure to reduce congestion.
The project will enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, support new employment sites and housing in and around Didcot, and help facilitate new and enhanced bus services. The Clifton Hampden Bypass section will re-route traffic on the A415, around the village of Clifton Hampden.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “The A415 is a busy road that experiences a large amount of through traffic and congestion on the A415 to A4074. It runs right through Clifton Hampden, including past the village primary school. This bypass will completely transform that, moving traffic onto a new road to the north of the village.
“I’m very pleased that we’ve successfully appointed a contractor to provide this much needed bypass.”
The bypass will provide a new single carriageway road, with segregated shared walking and cycling facilities, between the A415 at Culham Science Centre and the B4015 Oxford Road to the north of Clifton Hampden.
A new roundabout at the western end of the road will provide access to Culham Science Centre and Culham railway station.
New junctions will be provided to the east of the new roundabout and the existing A415 as well as at the northeastern end of the new road.
Andrew Henry, GRAHAM Contracts Director said: “GRAHAM’s latest appointment by Oxfordshire County Council reflects our ongoing partnership with the local authority. We are pleased to have been appointed to deliver this important infrastructure scheme, which will play a key role in improving connectivity in and around Didcot.
“At GRAHAM, we bring a strong track record of delivering complex infrastructure projects, and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Oxfordshire County Council to successfully deliver this scheme and create lasting benefits for the region.”
Pauline Schaffer, Director – Infrastructure Funding, Homes England, said: “The appointment of GRAHAM by Oxfordshire County Council is another major step forward in delivering vital transport improvements for Didcot and the surrounding areas.
“Homes England’s investment through the Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping to bring forward the Didcot infrastructure scheme, unlocking much needed new homes and economic growth for the local area.”
Enabling works, including site clearance, archaeology investigations and utility diversions, are already underway. Main construction is expected to start in the Spring, and last approximately two years.