Next week, the project will replace the existing carriageway surface and road markings. It will also include verge clearance and drainage repairs and improvements.

The scheme has been developed by Oxfordshire County Council and its highways contactor M Group in close collaboration with industry-leading highways and low-carbon materials specialists.

It brings together five complementary innovations, which collectively are expected to reduce embodied carbon emissions by more than 30 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared with conventional resurfacing.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “This project represents an exciting opportunity to bring together several industry-leading innovations within a single scheme and better understand how they can help us reduce carbon emissions from highway maintenance.

“Importantly, the trial is about more than carbon reduction alone. We are also exploring how these technologies can improve durability, reduce future maintenance requirements and support better long-term outcomes for Oxfordshire's road network.”

The largest single carbon saving is expected to come through replacing a conventional asphalt binder course with a bespoke mix of Breedon’s ACLA Net Zero Binder Course that has been specifically developed for this scheme.

The innovations have also been chosen for their ability to improve construction quality, enhance long-term durability and support biodiversity. These include:

• The use of Breedon's ACLA net zero binder course, a lower-carbon asphalt material that is expected to deliver the largest carbon saving within the scheme.
• Shell Cariphalte Ultra Carbon Sink Polymer Modified Bitumen, which combines carbon reduction benefits with enhanced pavement durability.
• Thermal Joint Heating technology to improve the quality and longevity of asphalt joints.
• Cold-applied MMA road markings, to be delivered by Wilson & Scott Highways which significantly reduce installation emissions compared with conventional thermoplastic markings.
• A biodiversity enhancement programme, including the creation of habitat features using suitable site-won materials.
• Solar powered welfare cabins and high-tech traffic management to reduce resource requirements, provided by TSM Ltd
• Use of electric plant by sub-contractors Breedon and DJT.

Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director said: “M Group is proud to be working with Oxfordshire County Council to pioneer new approaches to carbon reduction.

“This is much more than a change in material use: by working in alliance with our supply chain partners Breedon, DJT, TSM and Wilson & Scott we are combining a range of lower carbon materials, plant and equipment, welfare cabins, traffic management innovation and techniques within one project. This enables us to evaluate how they perform together in real-world conditions and generate learning that could influence future schemes across the industry.”

To enable the work to be carried out safely, the road will be closed in three phases:

• Phase 1: Monday 21 September to Friday 25 September: Full road closure to allow verge clearance, drainage repairs and resurfacing preparation works.
• Phase 2: Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October: Full road closure to enable carriageway resurfacing and the replacement of road markings.
• Phase 3: Monday 5 October to Wednesday 7 October: Full road closure to complete drainage improvements and verge reinstatement.

A signed diversion route will be in place throughout the closures, and the road will be reopened whenever it is safe to do so outside these periods. Staff will be positioned at either end of the closure to assist residents, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists and to help maintain the safety of both the workforce and the travelling public.

More information is available on the highways maintenance page of Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Yesterday Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the submission of its local transport delivery plan (LTDP) to the Department for Transport, detailing how it plans to spend £245.5 million of government funding between 2026 - 27 and 2029 - 30.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This sets out the latest stage of our investment in transport in Oxfordshire. Across all modes and all the county, we are maintaining and improving our networks.

“This includes an increase in funding for active travel, though not to the level we would expect, as government recognises our increased capability. While some government funding has been unfortunately cut, we remain determined to continue to deliver better transport.

“This county council administration is working hard to deliver better facilities for bus and rail users, walkers, cyclists and drivers, and hope to announce details of additional investment in the future.”

The funding has been allocated for projects including:

• road maintenance, including repairs and preventative measures
• bus improvements, including support for local services, ticketing schemes, vehicle improvements and passenger information
• active travel projects, including the development of walking and cycling schemes and studies and improving infrastructure
• Oxfordshire’s electric vehicle infrastructure strategy
• schemes linked to the Vision Zero programme aimed at eliminating deaths and serious injuries from Oxfordshire’s road by 2050.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “While it’s pleasing to see we are getting the money from the government we expected for highway maintenance, there is still a shortfall. That is why this council also puts a considerable amount of money from our council taxpayers into repairing and maintaining our roads.”

Other items set to be funded include a heavy goods vehicles pilot interventions scheme to support sustainable freight movement across the county, and setting up a mobility hub in Benson to create a sustainable transport network.

The finalised LTDP will be published by the government later this year, although the document will be reviewed annually.

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Oxfordshire County Council carried out the carriageway maintenance and resurfacing programme along the A361 through Banbury, between the junctions with the A422 Hennef Way roundabout and the B4100 Banbury Cross roundabout.

The work began on 24 August and was completed on 10 September – one shift ahead of schedule.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “This was a very important scheme for Banbury as this road runs right through the heart of the town. It was a massive piece of work, and it needed to be done as it has been many years since it was last resurfaced properly.

“The work will extend the life of the road by preventing water getting in, reducing the need for frequent repairs, enhancing skid resistance for safer travel, and smoothing out road surfaces for a more comfortable ride.”

The Banbury work was part of major programme of road improvements. From the end of May until early October, the council and its principal highways contractor M Group are visiting 38 sites to resurface about 115,000 square metres of roads across the county.

While effective, resurfacing is also expensive and disruptive, requiring road closures and diversions. So, in Oxfordshire, resurfacing work has been combined with a wide range of preventative maintenance treatments to improve the quality and longevity of the county’s roads at a lower cost and with less disruption to the public.

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Oxfordshire County Council has appointed GRAHAM to deliver the Didcot to Culham river crossing section of the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) scheme. This is the third and final construction contract to be awarded for this scheme.

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 Didcot to Culham river crossing includes a new 3.6km single carriageway road between the A4130 at the existing Collett roundabout junction in Didcot and the A415 at Culham. It will include a new bridge over the Appleford railway sidings and a new bridge over the River Thames. Segregated walking and cycling facilities will also be provided along the length of the scheme.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The Didcot to Culham river crossing will significantly reduce congestion in the area, and provide a safe route for walkers and cyclists. In particular, it will help relieve the congestion at the existing historic river crossings through Sutton Courtenay/Culham villages, and also at Clifton Hampden.

“These existing local bridges are old and not suitable for modern levels of traffic movement. They are often congested and subject to flooding in the winter months. This new crossing over the River Thames will help improve traffic flow, public transport journey times and reliability, and offer more resilience for public transport from flooding.

“The entire Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure scheme will give people more choice in how they travel, with improved conditions for active and sustainable kinds of travel which are better for everyone.”

Andrew Henry, GRAHAM Contracts Director, said: ““It is fantastic to have partnered with Oxfordshire County Council once again on another essential civil engineering project in the area.

“The Didcot to Culham river crossing is a complex project, which is ideally suited to our expertise. It will involve a complete overhaul of the current infrastructure, which is no longer fit for purpose, to deliver vital improvement works that support an enhanced quality of living for residents.”

Enabling works, including site clearance, archaeology investigations and utility diversions began earlier this year, and early construction activities are underway. Construction is expected to last approximately two and a half years.

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Oxfordshire County Council and its principal highways contractor M Group will be upgrading approximately 32 surface inlay sites, involving over 85,000 square metres of road, and three in-depth carriageway structural maintenance schemes, covering 20,838 square metres.

The programme is designed to renew worn and deteriorated road surfaces, improve driving conditions and reduce the need for more reactive repairs in the future. It also supports the council's commitment to reducing carbon emissions from highway maintenance activities.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “Following the extreme wet and cold weather we experienced last year, we will be using the summer months to get our roads ready to withstand the worst of the winters to come.

“This vital new programme will extend the life of roads by preventing water getting in, reducing the need for frequent repairs, enhancing skid resistance for safer travel, and smoothing out road surfaces.

“Prevention is better than cure. I know from my own division that the roads that were least affected by potholes this winter were the ones that had been resurfaced most recently.”

Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director, said: “Resurfacing is a vital pillar of highway maintenance, alongside preventative measures such as surface dressing and reactive repairs. We’re proud to be once again partnering with Oxfordshire County Council to deliver a comprehensive package of resurfacing.

“By investing in resurfacing at the right time, we can extend the life of the carriageway, improve safety for road users and help prevent more costly repairs in the future.”

In a county first, one of the structural maintenance schemes will incorporate ACLA, an innovative carbon-negative aggregate-like additive. The technology helps maintain the road's structural integrity while permanently locking carbon into the carriageway, contributing to a lower-carbon approach to highway maintenance.

Major roads to be resurfaced include:

• A44 Worcester Road, Chipping Norton (3 - 7 August)
• A40, Swinbrook (5 August)
• A361 Southam Road, Banbury (24 August - September)
• A361 Horsefair, Banbury (27 August - 11 September)
• A361 Southam Road/Horsefair crossroads (9 - 10 September)
• A40, Milton Common (21 - 22 September)
• Thames Street, Oxford (23 September to 24 September)
• Horspath Driftway, Oxford (28 September - 16 October).

Longer resurfacing schemes include:

• Upavon Way, Carterton (17 August - 25 September)
• Lower Icknield Way, Chinnor (29 September - 2 October)
• A44 Cross Hands (24 August - 6 November).

These dates include preliminary work which will usually take place under temporary traffic lights, ahead of the main surfacing work which will require road closures. To minimise public disruption, the surfacing work takes place overnight wherever possible.

All dates are subject to alteration due to the weather.

Motorists are asked to observe the diversion routes which will be in operation while the work takes place.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, is available on the council’s website.

The latest resurfacing work follows the council’s latest £8 million surface dressing road maintenance programme, most of which was completed between April and June.

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The Oxfordshire County Council project was carried out by M Group and forms part of wider work to improve transport connections in the area, supporting more reliable journeys for residents, businesses and those travelling through.

A site visit to mark the occasion, was attended by MP for Witney, Charlie Maynard, and Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, Cllr Liz Leffman, as well as representatives from local councils, senior county council officers and the project delivery team.

Speaking on site, Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “This project has been a long time coming, and residents have advocated for it for years. We are delighted to have been able to deliver this scheme on time and in budget and seeing it in use this morning has been a joy.

“This is an important project, and the improvements here will provide Witney with better connections to and from the A40, taking traffic out of the town centre, supporting active travel, and benefitting communities, businesses and visitors for many years to come.”

Charlie Maynard, MP for Witney said: “I'm delighted that the Shores Green junction is now open. After decades of waiting, the collaboration between a number of councils resulted in getting the necessary funding and driving the project to completion. Well done to everyone involved.

Councillor Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council said: "This junction means a great deal to Witney residents. I first visited Witney on a 100 bus in the late 90s and was baffled by the junction. It's an anomaly that's needed fixing for decades.

“Thank you to all the councillors and officers who kept the call for it and the project alive and brought us to this point. I look forward to data on the impact it makes on traffic flow and on air quality. I hope we all find it less frustrating to visit the other side of town and to venture West more readily."

Mark Smith, senior project manager at M Group, who deliver the scheme on behalf of the county council added: “M Group is proud to have successfully delivered the Access to Witney scheme. This project demonstrates the value of a strong collaborative relationship between M Group and Oxfordshire County Council.

"By working together the team successfully achieved the project objectives, while maintaining a focus on safety, quality and minimising disruption to the travelling public. We are proud to have played our part in delivering lasting improvements for the local community.”

The £26.8-million scheme provides a new eastbound off-slip and westbound on-slip, enabling more direct access between Witney and the A40. The project has also delivered improvements for pathways, new crossings and upgraded drainage and signs.

The Access to Witney project was funded by Homes England via the Housing and Growth Deal fund, Section 106 developer contributions and traffic congestion improvement funds. Enabling works for the project began in February 2025, with construction starting later that spring.

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The Oxfordshire County Council project was carried out by M Group and forms part of wider work to improve transport connections in the area, supporting more reliable journeys for residents, businesses and those travelling through.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “New A40 slip roads have been sought by residents of Witney for many years, and it is great to see them open to traffic, taking through journeys out of the town centre. Witney is a vibrant town, and reducing traffic here will make it healthier, more accessible and attractive as a place to spend time.

“Alongside the new junction, the project has provided improvements for walking and cycling, including 1.2km of shared-use path, creating more choice of different ways to travel.

“Completing this project on time and to budget is an important achievement. I would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience during construction.”

As well as the new slip roads, the project includes improvements for walking and cycling, new crossings, and upgraded signs and drainage, helping to support safer and more sustainable travel and enable long-term housing growth in the area.

Enabling works for the project started in February 2025, with construction commencing in spring 2025.

The project was funded by Homes England, alongside Housing and Growth Deal funding and Section 106 developer contributions.

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This week, Oxfordshire County Council and its highways contractor M Group used Wildmere Road in Banbury as a test site to trial 15 different methods of filling in potholes or ‘patching’ minor defects.

Some of these methods are already used in Oxfordshire, while the others were new technology sourced by M Group.

Wildmere Road was closed and a 700-metre stretch was divided into sections. Each section had a different type of pothole or patch repair carried out to get a direct comparison of the various methods.

It is the second time the council has carried out a pothole repair innovation event, following a similar trial in Steventon in 2023, believed to have been the first of its kind in the country. Seven repair methods were trialled in 2023, making this week’s event a much larger undertaking.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The impact of potholes on our roads this winter, not just in Oxfordshire but nationwide, has been unprecedented.

“We are committed to seeking new and innovative methods of carrying out repairs on our 3,000 mile road network. Technology is changing all the time and it is important to test the latest products to maximise value for money when it comes to highway maintenance.

“The 2023 event led to us adopting several new methods of repair, and ruling out others, so we hope this latest trial will provide evidence and information for our contractors about what repair methods work best by testing them on the same stretch of road.”

Since January 2026, M Group has repaired more than 33,000 highways defects – compared to 37,042 potholes filled in the whole of the 2024 - 25.

This was against a backdrop of perfect pothole-forming weather conditions this winter – a prolonged freeze followed by a protracted period of rain, which led to an unprecedented increase in the number of emergency pothole reports. The council was receiving more than 1,000 reports a week, reaching over 1,300 defects in a single week in early March.

As a result, the number of repair crews was increased from seven to 25 to reduce a backlog of potholes caused by the weather. More specialist crews and equipment were also brought in, including a ‘Bobcat’ planer, Dragon Patcher and thermal road repairs.

Richard Lovewell, M Group Business Director, said: “From introducing the Dragon Patcher back in 2015 to hosting the UK’s first pothole trial day in 2023, M Group and Oxfordshire County Council have a strong track record of working together to find better ways to maintain and repair roads.

“This latest trial is about building on that progress. By testing new products and approaches we can ensure that we are using the best value materials in the right conditions and the right places, increasing efficiency and durability, and delivering better value for Oxfordshire residents.

“With wetter winters and hotter summers, it is vital we keep adapting our maintenance techniques to cope with increasing pressure on our road networks.”

Wildmere Road will be monitored regularly over the next two years to allow comparisons of the type of repair, equipment, material, and labour used, and the time taken.

This will include an understanding of the potential results, longevity of repairs, waste generated, carbon impact, use of recycled content and productivity that may be achievable.

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The Oxfordshire County Council project will create a more welcoming public realm that encourages more people to visit and spend time in the town centre, makes walking, wheeling and cycling easier and more pleasant for everyone, and complements the town’s history and character. It supports the existing traffic arrangement on Witney High Street and Market Square.

The scheme will provide:  

• new seating areas, trees and planting
• resurfacing of approximately 2,000m2 of existing footways and creating over 1,000m2 of new footway space
• 10 marked disabled persons’ parking places
• flexible loading arrangements for businesses in the town centre
• a new, additional bus stop for community transport. Taxi access will be permitted in the shared space after 5pm on weekdays and after 2pm on Saturdays, with a 16-metre taxi bay provided at all times.
• a new traffic priority arrangement for the High Street/Welch Way junction including a central island to support cyclists making right turns. This will help to make road users' intentions clearer at the junction, making it safer. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The Witney High Street project makes effective use of the town centre space to accommodate multiple users. It has developed over a long period of time, with several rounds of consultation and construction is due to start in May.”

Construction is due to start in early May 2026 and be completed in November 2026. The works will be undertaken in phases, starting on the western side of the street, with traffic movements restricted to southbound only during this phase.

Works will then then switch to the eastern side of the street when traffic will only be permitted northbound on the High Street and Market Square between the Corn Street and Welch Way junctions. 

Safe pedestrian and wheelchair/mobility-aided access as well as access to the shops, food outlets and businesses will be maintained throughout the works.  

While bus stop and taxi rank locations will be maintained when possible, during some phases of the works, bus stops will need to be relocated to Langdale Gate and Welch Way, with the taxi rank temporarily relocated outside The Angel Inn on Market Square. 

There may be short periods where some loading and disabled persons' parking places on the High Street and by the Market Square may not be available. Appropriate areas for loading during each phase of the works will be communicated to businesses with regular updates provided. 

Shoppers can continue to park in the Woolgate car park near the Market Square and in Marriott's Walk. A site compound for the works will be set up in Zone G of the Woolgate car park, with long stay parking bays relocated to adjacent areas of the car park. 

The final phase will be the installation of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to help reduce the number of non-exempt motor vehicles going through the restrictions on the High Street and Market Square.

The council is hosting a drop-in information event where members of the public can view the final designs for the project and learn about the construction programme. This will take place on Wednesday 29 April, 2pm - 7pm, at the Witney Corn Exchange.

Background information on the project and plans showing the relocation of services during the works is available on the council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s talk Oxfordshire.

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Eighty-seven roads will be improved as part of an £8 million Oxfordshire County Council highway maintenance programme beginning this spring.

The council and its principal highway contractor M Group will be visiting 62 towns and villages between April and June to carry out surface dressing work.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The places with the best roads there are the ones that don’t get potholes in the first place.

“Oxfordshire has some of the busiest roads in the country, with 4.79 billion vehicle miles travelled in 2024. Heavy traffic puts huge strain on road surfaces.

“Reactive pothole repairs are expensive and inefficient. Preventative maintenance, such as surface dressing, is far better value and stops potholes forming in the first place.”

Richard Lovewell, M Group Business Director, said: “Surface dressing is the most cost-effective and efficient way to increase the life of our roads. It prevents water ingress, improves skid resistance and ultimately protects the carriageway from future potholes.

“We’re proud to be supporting the council in delivering this forward-thinking investment in Oxfordshire’s road network. Delivering a programme of this scale demands real teamwork between the council and M Group working alongside our partners Hazell & Jefferies and Wilson & Scott.

“My thanks go out to everyone involved in pulling this complex programme together and to the crews who will be working tirelessly on the ground.”

The council is urging motorists to watch out for notifications of the work taking place and to drive carefully after it has been carried out.

Driving too fast on a recently treated road can result in broken windscreens or chipped paintwork, as the friction from the tyres can dislodge loose chips. There is also an increased risk of skidding while the new chippings ‘bed in’.

For these reasons, an advisory speed limit of 20mph will be put in place. It is important to adhere to these low speeds until all warning signs have been removed.

Surface dressing takes place after existing defects have been patched and involves applying bituminous emulsion onto the road as a binder. This is followed immediately by the application of chippings to dress the emulsion layer.

The method offers many advantages, including:

• Sealing the road surface to keep out water, one of the major causes of deterioration and potholes.
• Reducing the deterioration of the road surface.
• Restoring the necessary level of skid resistance to reduce skid-related traffic collisions.
• Enabling worn out road surfaces to last longer, increasing the time before structural maintenance is required.
• Maximising the cost effectiveness of limited highway maintenance budgets.
• Minimising traffic disruption and congestion as large areas of roads – up to 100,000 square metres – can be treated in a single day.
• The work is highly weather dependent and cannot be completed in wet conditions.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, will be available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

However, the work is highly weather dependent and cannot be completed in wet conditions. Therefore, the earlier in the spring it can be started, the more likely it can be completed with minimal disruptions as it provides extra leeway for days lost to rain.

Last year, the council treated over 1.4 million square metres of carriageway, whether in full-scale resurfacing programmes or preventative treatments, like surface dressing which prolongs the life of the roads treated by up to 10 years.

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Oxfordshire County Council has now formally entered into a contract with VolkerFitzpatrick to build the Didcot Science Bridge section of the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) scheme on behalf of the council.

The scheme will provide vital transport infrastructure to reduce congestion and enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, and support new employment sites and housing in and around Didcot.

The project includes four sections that incorporate improvements to existing roads, the construction of new roads, new walking and cycle routes, and will help to facilitate new and enhanced bus services.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “I’m very pleased that we have reached the stage where we have appointed VolkerFitzpatrick to build an important section of the scheme.

“This means work will start soon on this transformative infrastructure development. It will offer more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot and provide opportunities for more direct, faster and more reliable bus routes. It will also improve road safety and support the creation of new jobs and economic growth in the local area.”

The construction contract will include creating a dual carriageway along the A4130 east of the A34 Milton Interchange and a new single carriageway bridge across the railway line and Milton Road.

The dualling of the A4130 will repurpose the existing carriageway, using the current southern ditch to create a central reservation and adding two new lanes to the south. The existing A4130 carriageway will travel eastbound towards Didcot and the newly constructed lanes will travel westbound towards Milton interchange.

The three-span Science Bridge will cross over the existing A4130, the Great Western mainline railway, and Milton Road. The road will continue through the former Didcot A Power Station connecting back into the A4130 north of Purchas Road roundabout with a T-junction.

Paul Lilley, Strategic Projects Director, VolkerFitzpatrick commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver the Didcot Science Bridge, a key component of this transformative infrastructure programme.

“Our team brings extensive experience in delivering complex civil engineering projects, and we look forward to working closely with Oxfordshire County Council and its partners to create infrastructure that will improve journey times, enhance sustainable travel options, and support future growth across the region.”

Pauline Schaffer, Director – Infrastructure Funding, Homes England, said: “The appointment of VolkerFitzpatrick represents a 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 employment space 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.

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Oxfordshire County Council and its highway contractor M Group will carry out the work to the whole interchange, including the circulatory carriageway and all approaches and exits.

The work will include kerb and drainage maintenance, ironwork adjustments, resurfacing of the existing carriageway and reinstatement of all existing and legal road markings and lines.

Traffic signal loops will also be re-cut to ensure the signals operate with the correct timings and sequencing once the junction reopens.

To minimise disruption, a 24/7 road closure is scheduled from 8pm on Friday 27 February to 5am on Monday 2 March, subject to weather conditions and any unforeseen circumstances, with work taking place both day and night.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This work is essential to maintaining the safety and long term condition of this busy strategic junction.

“By carrying it out over a single weekend with a full closure, we can complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible while reducing overall disruption.”

During the closure, the entire Milton Interchange will be closed, including all A4130 approaches and exits towards Didcot and Steventon. There will be no access on or off the A34 at this junction and no vehicular access to or from Park Drive.

A fully signed local diversion route will be in place throughout the work.

Temporary three‑way traffic signals will operate on the A4130 to maintain vehicle access between Didcot, Milton Gate and the services area. Access to Milton Gate and the services complex will not be possible directly via the roundabout.

Access to Milton Park business park will be available using alternative routes through Milton village, Sutton Courtenay or from Didcot to the eastern end of Park Drive.

For safety reasons, there will be no pedestrian access around the roundabout from Milton Heights or Trenchard Avenue. Pedestrians from Park Drive will be diverted through a public right of way, rejoining the A4130 opposite the hotel.

A dedicated pedestrian route between Milton Gate and the services area will remain open, supported by pedestrian marshals. Pedestrian access along the A4130 from Didcot will remain open as far as Milton Gate and the services area.

Scheduled bus services will continue to operate, although routes will be temporarily revised. Passengers are advised to check bus operator websites for the latest information. Staff will be in place at all road closure points to help manage traffic and pedestrians safely and advance warning signs will be in place.

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Excavation and earthworks start today (3 September) as part of the construction of new south-facing slip roads at Lodge Hill, which only has north-facing slips at present. The scheme will improve connectivity to and from the north of Abingdon, avoiding the town centre and making it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport as part of their daily routine.

Early work to set up the site and prepare the area began in May 2025. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

To ensure the scheme is built safely, the council’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty, will undertake six different stages of work to minimise disruption.

The first stage involves removing the islands at the junction of the slip roads. This will create more space for construction vehicle access and movement. During this first stage of work, temporary overnight traffic signals will operate between 9pm and 5am on the A4183 and A34 southbound.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “The much-anticipated A34 Lodge Hill scheme will improve capacity at the junction, improving bus and car journeys, as well as making walking and cycling safer in the area.

“This is vital and much-needed investment to support growth in Abingdon. Once complete, it will reduce the amount of through traffic in the town centre, improving the environment for everyone.

“We have all campaigned for this for so long and it is wonderful news that construction has begun.”

Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Funding at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, we want to support public and private sector partners to unlock strategic housing sites where brownfield, infrastructure or land projects face delivery challenges.

“Through the Brownfield Infrastructure Land fund, we’re unlocking 820 much needed new homes in Abingdon with the construction of these key roads. Lodge Hill is a prime example of how we’re working with partners like Oxfordshire County Council to unlock the potential of new homes and regional growth in communities through improving infrastructure.”

Matt Parkes, Project Director at Balfour Beatty, said: “We’re pleased to be partnering with Oxfordshire County Council to deliver the A34 Lodge Hill Interchange scheme. This vital infrastructure project will not only unlock regional economic growth but also transform connectivity for residents and road users. Once complete, it will provide safer, more efficient journeys and support the long-term development of the wider area.”

Details of traffic management throughout construction and more information about the A34 Lodge Hill scheme is available on the council’s website.

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Oxfordshire County Council and its principal highways contractor M Group will visit 36 sites to carry out essential resurfacing. Work started at the end of June and is scheduled to run until 17 October.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Resurfacing plays a vital role in maintaining the county’s road network and this shows our ongoing commitment to investing in the highway network, reducing the number of defects and improving people’s journeys.

“This programme will extend the life of roads by preventing water getting in, reducing the need for frequent repairs, enhancing skid resistance for safer travel, and smoothing out road surfaces for a more comfortable ride.”

Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director, said: “We are proud to be working with Oxfordshire County Council to deliver a comprehensive package of surfacing programmes to improve the county’s road network.

“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we carry out these essential works to enhance the quality and safety of Oxfordshire’s roads.”

The programme includes three main types of resurfacing:

• Safety schemes targeting accident prone areas to improve skid resistance.
• Surface inlay work where the road surface has deteriorated but the foundations remain sound. This involves removing and replacing defective layers.
• Structural maintenance, which is more intensive reconstruction for severely damaged roads.

In total, the work will cover over 111,000 square metres of road surface, using nearly 22,000 tonnes of material, with treatment depths ranging from 40mm to 250mm.

Disruption will be kept to a minimum, with work requiring road closures taking place at night wherever possible. However, disruption is likely at some sites where more intensive reconstruction for severely damaged roads is taking place.

The programme will affect some of the county’s A-roads, including:

• A40 Milton Common (July 14-August 22)
• A40 Swinbrook Road/Burford Road (July 29 – August 18)
• B4495 Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford (August 4-5 September)
• B4437 Charlbury (August 5-12)
• A361 Shipton under Wychwood, from Plum Lane to Dog Kennel Lane (August 7-13)
• A361 The Hill, Burford (August 8-20)
• B4044 Eynsham Road, Botley, Oxford (August 11-September 15)
• A420 Longcot (August 14-September 8)
• Tubney, A420 approach to A338 roundabout (August 21-23)
• A40 Witney eastbound bypass, Ducklington (August 25-27)
• Oxford Parkway park and ride surfacing (August 26-28)
• Wantage Road/Station Road, Wallingford (August 26-October 9).
• A40 Witney bypass, B4022 underpass (August 28-29)
• A4155 Reading Road, Henley (September 15-19)
• Banbury Road, Oxford, from St Margaret’s Road to South Park Road (September 18-October 9)
• A4155 Reading Road, Henley, from Station Road to Friday Street (October 8-15).

These dates include preliminary work which will usually take place under temporary traffic lights, ahead of the main surfacing work which will require road closures. All dates are subject to alteration due to the weather.

Motorists are asked to observe the diversion routes which will be in operation while the work takes place.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, is available on the council’s website. However, the programme will be subject to alterations depending on the weather.

The latest resurfacing work follows the council’s surface dressing road maintenance programme, most of which was completed between April and June.

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Road users are now being asked to watch out for the next stage, which will involve highway crews repainting the lines and markings, and installing reflective road studs in the coming weeks.

Phase one of Oxfordshire County Council’s £7.4 million surface dressing programme, delivered by its highway contractor M Group, began in April and finished on 15 June. Around 70 towns and villages were visited, with 938,336sq m of carriageway treated.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We were very lucky with the weather this spring and early summer. Surface dressing is extremely weather dependent, and we only had to rearrange a handful of shifts due to rain.

“We are grateful for the cooperation of road users during this time and ask them to be patient during the repainting process too. I hope they are noticing the improved quality of many of these roads.”

The road markings programme began earlier this month and is scheduled to be completed by mid-July. It can only be started around four weeks after the surface has been treated.

The second phase of the surface dressing programme will take place from 30 August - 8 September. This followed requests to avoid disruption to two key locations during the main phase and will take the total amount of carriageway treated to over a million square metres.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, will be available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Richard Lovewell, M Group Business Director, said: “We’re very pleased to be supporting Oxfordshire County Council to deliver another widescale surface dressing programme.

“A programme of this scale and complexity requires exemplary collaboration across all partners from the council to our sub-contractors Hazell and Jefferies and Wilson and Scott. Thanks to all involved, especially the teams who have been working in sometimes gruelling heat to get the programme completed to schedule in order to minimise disruption to the public.”

Surface dressing is a cost-effective highway maintenance measure which, on average, extends the service life of a road by eight to 10 years. It seals the road surface to keep out water, one of the major causes of deterioration and potholes.

It involves applying bituminous emulsion on to the road as a binder. This is followed immediately by the application of chippings to dress the emulsion layer.

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Oxfordshire County Council and its contractor will be visiting 73 towns and villages between 22 April - 16 June to carry out surface dressing work.

Over one million square metres of carriageway will be treated.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Prevention is better than cure, and this work builds on a similar programme of work, which we carried out last year.

“We realise how important the quality of our roads is to our residents and this work will help keep many miles of highways in a better condition for years to come. Surface dressing is one of the most cost effective methods of roads maintenance, with the spring and summer being the best time to complete the work.

“The council is urging motorists to watch out for notifications of the work taking place and to drive carefully after it has been carried out.”

Driving too fast on a recently treated road can result in broken windscreens or chipped paintwork, as the friction from the tyres can dislodge loose chips. There is also an increased risk of skidding while the new chippings ‘bed in’.

For these reasons, an advisory speed limit of 20mph will be put in place. It is important to adhere to these low speeds until all warning signs have been removed.

Surface dressing involves applying bituminous emulsion onto the road as a binder. This is followed immediately by the application of chippings to dress the emulsion layer.

The method offers many advantages, including:

• Sealing the road surface to keep out water, one of the major causes of deterioration and potholes.
• Reducing the deterioration of the road surface.
• Restoring the necessary level of skid resistance to reduce skid-related traffic collisions.
• Enabling worn out road surfaces to last longer, increasing the time before structural maintenance is required.
• Maximising the cost effectiveness of limited highway maintenance budgets.
• Minimising traffic disruption and congestion as large areas of roads – up to 100,000 square metres – can be treated in a single day.
• The work is highly weather dependent and cannot be completed in wet conditions.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, will be available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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The road opened to all users on 18 December 2024.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “The Benson Relief Road is a central piece of new infrastructure for the village and a vital tool to reducing through traffic in the village centre. It incorporates measures to encourage cycling and walking locally, which helps reduce car usage in the village, lessening congestion, local emissions and adverse air quality.”

Construction of the section of the road that connects to Oxford Road, and the creation of a flood compensation area, was undertaken by Milestone Infrastructure on behalf of the council and took 13 months to complete.

Archaeological surveys of the site during the early part of construction uncovered an ancient well, while wildlife-friendly structures (mammal shelves and an otter tunnel) and a wildlife wetland habitat were installed to protect and improve the overall local biodiversity.

As part of the decommissioning of the site compound, two electric vehicle charging points and a defibrillator have been donated to Benson Parish Council and relocated to Benson parish hall for local residents to use. Members of the project’s construction team also gave their time to help build a pergola for the Benson Community Gardens.

Councillor Judy Roberts added: “I am delighted to say that we have delivered our section of the road on time and on budget. Through the fantastic efforts of our project and construction delivery teams, we have also saved approximately 203 tonnes of carbon. This equates to 127  return flights from London to New York.”

Carbon saving activities on the scheme included using recycled material where possible on site, reusing material, such as fill or topsoil across the scheme, and minor design changes to reduce the impact of the scheme on the local environment. 

The northern section of the road is already complete and parts of the middle section are currently under construction. These are being delivered by the various housing developers on site. The entire route is anticipated to be open to all traffic in 2026.

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Planning approval for the HIF1 Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure project was granted by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, following a planning inspector’s report recommending that the scheme proceed to construction. The scheme was subject to a 21-day conjoined public inquiry earlier this year.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “The approval of this application is fantastic news, as securing planning consent is a key milestone in proceeding with this project.

“This work is a big step towards tackling congestion in Didcot and the surrounding villages. It will transform travel in the Didcot area for current and future residents as well as commuters, reduce congestion in the surrounding villages, and improve air quality and noise levels.”

The £332 million project is fully funded. Successful discussions with government in early 2022, and again in early 2024, resulted in additional grants from Homes England. Approval was also given to underwrite up to £30m from Oxfordshire County Council’s capital budget in February 2022, while Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership contributed a £10m capital investment generated from Enterprise Zones’ business rates retention.

With planning consent now in place, work continues to finalise detailed designs, and confirm and appoint contractors.  The decision on the statutory orders needed to secure all of the land for the scheme is awaited, but private negotiations with landowners continue to progress.

Construction is anticipated to start on site in early 2026 and last approximately two years.

Councillor Roberts added: “This project is key in providing real sustainable travel options for people in and around Didcot. It will enable more reliable journey times for buses and other vehicles and improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity.

“The investment in this infrastructure will also support more jobs in the local area in new and existing employment sites. I’m delighted that we can now progress towards construction.”

For more information about the project visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/didcot 

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Diversions will be in place between 8pm on Friday 2 August and 6am on Monday 5 August while the roundabout is closed.

Motorists are asked to be aware of the closure and to use the suggested alternative routes.

There will be no travel along the eastern bypass between the Heyford Hill roundabout and the B480 Cowley Road interchange in both directions during the closure.

Westbound traffic travelling along the eastern bypass will be reduced from dual carriageway to a single lane, with traffic then taken off at the B480 Cowley interchange to join the signed diversion route.

Eastbound traffic travelling along the eastern bypass will be subject to a similar lane closure as well as a speed reduction, so traffic arrives at the Heyford Hill roundabout in a single lane at safer speeds. From there, traffic will be diverted around the diversion route.

The Sandy Lane West slip road will also be closed where it joins the eastern bypass heading west towards Littlemore roundabout.

Bus companies will still operate a service between Sandford-on-Thames into the city. This will utilise Oxford Road, Cowley Road, and Church Cowley Road before resuming its usual route.

Arrangements are in place for residents in the affected area to continue to access their homes while the closure is in place.

By carrying out the work over a single 24/7 closure, the resurfacing can be completed quicker and more cost effectively with as little disruption as possible.

There will be separate crews working both day and night to ensure continuous working throughout.

The alternative approach would have seen the work taking place over 11 separate nights of closures, causing more disruption to residents and businesses, increasing the cost, and leading to a potentially poorer standard of work due to more opportunities for water to enter the road surface.

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Oxfordshire County Council carried out the work using ‘cold recycling’ with its contractor Milestone Infrastructure and its supply chain partners Aggregate Industries, Drayton Construction, Hazell & Jeffries and OCL Regeneration in September and October.

During this programme, over 4,000 tonnes of cold recycled material was laid, saving an estimated 75 tonnes of carbon – equivalent to 92 flights from London to New York. It also avoids the environmental impact of disposing of thousands of tonnes of waste planings – the top layer of road surfaces removed due to damage – and the need to extract virgin aggregates.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is just the latest in a series of schemes we are carrying out with our contractor to improve the quality of Oxfordshire’s roads. By embracing innovation, we are making our residents’ money go further, helping ease the burden on highways budget and cutting carbon emissions in our own projects.”

Five schemes were completed across the county using cold recycling:

• Park Road, Didcot
• Kingham Hill Lane, near Cornwell
• Merton Road, Ambrosden
• B4450 Station Road, Kingham
• Aston Road, near Ducklington.

This technique involves recycling stockpiled road planings and processing them ready to be reused in resurfacing projects.

This material, known as Foambase® or cold recycled bound material, uses 94 per cent of recycled aggregates bound with foamed bitumen and other hydraulic binders. It uses just five per cent of the energy compared to that used in the manufacture of traditional asphalt. This offers a 50 per cent savings in embodied carbon compared with using standard materials.

Richard Lovewell, Business Director for Milestone on the Oxfordshire Contract, said: “Carbon reduction is a key strategic target for both Milestone and Oxfordshire County Council. It is therefore imperative that we look for new ways of working to maximise the use of recycled materials within our highway maintenance contract.

“Our innovative solution of recycling waste materials arising from other maintenance schemes not only reduces carbon emissions but also creates cost savings, especially through not having to pay high specialist disposal costs. This delivers the dual benefit of additional reinvestment into the county council road network whilst taking another step to achieve Milestone’s target of net zero by 2040.

“This project is another great example of Milestone and Oxfordshire County Council working together to deliver sustainable solutions to maintain the county’s roads.”

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The technique, known as in-situ cold recycling, also allowed the road to be reopened eight days quicker than by using conventional resurfacing techniques.

Oxfordshire County Council carried out the scheme on a road north of Berrick Salome, near Wallingford, with its contractor Milestone Infrastructure and its partner Stabilised Pavements Limited.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We know how important the quality of our roads is to our residents, as well as the need for the county council to reduce the embodied carbon of its highway maintenance work. That is why we’re delighted to be delivering this scheme to make our residents’ money go further and reduce disruption.

“Innovation is at the heart of what our highway teams do. This new technique could be another weapon in our armoury to help ease the burden on highways budgets and cut carbon emissions in our projects.”

In-situ cold recycling involves pulverising the existing carriageway in its original place and then mixing it with foamed bitumen and cementitious powder to create a new 300mm-deep strengthened carriageway.

The material is then compacted to return the recycled layer back to the required road level before a thin surface layer, known as surface dressing, is applied to seal the surface and provide the required skid resistance.

As the technique does not require the material to be heated and involves a lot less import of virgin materials, it is an environmentally friendly technique. It is estimated to reduce carbon by approximately 71 per cent compared to conventional surfacing of the same depth.

On this scheme alone, this is the equivalent of 227 tonnes of carbon – roughly the same as taking over 100 petrol cars off the road for a year.

The new road surface is expected to last for at least 20 years, with routine maintenance. It also has the benefit of cutting 564 lorry movements to and from site, reducing the impact on local communities.

This Berrick Salome project is the latest in a series of innovations on the county’s roads, following:

• A third trial involving the longer lasting Graphene Plus-enhanced asphalt Gipave in Middle Barton in August.
• A trial of new lower carbon materials at a Wantage access road scheme in August.
• The testing of seven different pothole repair methods on a road in Steventon in July.

Phil Raven, Head of Technical Design for Milestone on the Oxfordshire Contract, said: “As we look for new ways to reduce carbon emissions within highways maintenance, increasing the use of recycled materials in our surfacing materials is an important tool in Milestone’s plan towards achieving net zero by 2040.  This is the first time we have been able to use this particular technique on our Oxfordshire network.

“Not only can this lead to carbon reduction and a cost-effective way to repair a rural highway, it can reduce disruption to road users and reduce lorry movements in local communities. This project is a good example of Milestone and Oxfordshire County Council being at the forefront of using innovative techniques to maintain the county’s roads.”

The Berrick Salome scheme is a £740,000 project, which also includes significant drainage repairs. The scheme started on 21 August and is planned to last for five weeks. The 1,650-metre length of surfacing work was completed in six days.

The work is being carried out under a full road closure due to the narrow width of the road to ensure the safety of road users and the workforce. A signed diversion route is in place.

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Oxfordshire County Council is carrying out the trial in North Street, Middle Barton, with its contractor Milestone Infrastructure and their partner Aggregate Industries to develop the use of Gipave – a Graphene Plus-enhanced asphalt.

North Street is the third Oxfordshire site to trial the innovative material. A 725-metre stretch of the road will be laid with Gipave, while an adjacent length of road will be resurfaced using conventional high performance asphalt, so that the two surfaces can be compared accurately.

It follows a successful pilot scheme in Curbridge in 2019 – the first use of the product in the UK – and a trial on Oxford’s Marsh Lane in March 2022.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We know how important the quality of our roads is to our residents. That is why we’re delighted to be involved in this latest trial to see how we can make our residents’ money go further and make our road surfaces stay in good condition for longer.

“Innovation is at the heart of what our highway teams do, as we have shown with previous Gipave trials and our recent event in Steventon where Milestone tested seven different pothole repair methods on the same road. Increasing the lifespan of road surfaces will reduce the need for resurfacing work, ease the burden on highways budgets, and cut carbon emissions for the life cycle of a stretch of road.”

Phil Raven, Head of Technical Design for Milestone on the Oxfordshire Contract, said: “This is another significant step to test the benefits that this innovative material can bring. As we look for new ways to reduce carbon emissions within highways maintenance, developing materials that last longer is an important part of Milestone’s plan towards achieving net zero by 2040.

“Not only can this lead to longer term carbon reduction, it has the potential to reduce disruption to road users and achieve long term savings for highway authorities. This trial project demonstrates the benefits of international industry collaboration with a highway authority that is committed to trialling new innovations.”

Gipave, which has been developed by Iterchimica, also uses waste plastics which would not normally be recycled. Meanwhile the asphalt containing Gipave can itself be entirely recycled – promoting the ‘circular economy’ which reduces waste and the need for new materials.

Recent in-service testing and analysis of the original 2019 trial site showed the new asphalt material is forecast to increase the lifespan of the asphalt pavement by approximately 165 per cent compared to conventional resurfacing methods, with a corresponding carbon saving of 40 per cent over 20 years.

The Middle Barton scheme is a £450,000 resurfacing project which also includes kerb and drainage repairs. The scheme started on 17 July and is planned to last for four weeks.

The surfacing works are being carried out under full overnight road closures to reduce the disruption to road users and local businesses and residents.

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Work will be carried out on the A4144 Woodstock Road, between the Wolvercote roundabout and St Anne’s College, just north of St Giles, 10 – 25 August.

To minimise disruption, the work is taking place between 8pm and 5am, and two-way temporary traffic lights will be in operation over a short section to avoid closing the road. Side roads will be closed if they fall within the traffic lights while the work is taking place.

All traffic management will be removed outside of the working hours and at weekends and marshals will be in place to help manage the flow of vehicles and assist motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, and residents.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This is a key road into Oxford and so it is important that this vital work is carried out to improve the carriageway.

“Because of the closure of the Botley Road due to Network Rail’s redevelopment of Oxford Station, this work is taking place overnight and during the school holidays to reduce the impact on the rest of the network.”

Bus services will continue as normal along the Woodstock Road although some stops will be suspended if they fall within the extent of the traffic management.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet today adopted the plan, which includes hierarchies of road users and priority for roadworks in line with its Local Transport and Connectivity Plan and its commitment to climate action.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We face a huge challenge in meeting residents’ travel needs as the population and associated infrastructure grows, while avoiding the economic damage caused by severe congestion and enabling a zero-carbon Oxfordshire by 2050.

“We have a once in a generation opportunity to make a significant shift away from private car use, towards more flexible working patterns and greener travel choices – reducing pressure on the road network and creating the space for local traffic improvements.

“Essential to achieving our priorities and policies is a transport system that enables the efficient movement of people and goods, while promoting greater use of sustainable travel modes.

“This network management plan explores the challenges that we face and explains how we will manage Oxfordshire’s highways to deliver an effective, sustainable transport system for people and businesses.”

Key objectives of the plan include minimising disruption, providing quality information to the travelling public, supporting active travel, improving journey time reliability, and maximising the effective use of road space.

The user hierarchy prioritises walking and wheeling, cycling, riding and public transport ahead of motorcycles, shared vehicles such as car clubs, and cars, vans, and lorries.

Network management will also make decisions to support road safety, especially following the council’s adoption of the vision zero strategy to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.

There are approximately 30,000 accidents on Oxfordshire’s roads, 1,700 reported injuries – including 300 of a serious nature – and 30 deaths, with a higher proportion of serious incidents than many local authority areas due to a higher amount of rural road links on the network.

The hierarchy for the priority of roadworks is:

• emergency repairs
• works of national importance (such as HS2 and East West Rail)
• county council new and improved infrastructure projects
• digital connectivity infrastructure projects
• large public events
• major utility infrastructure and works
• small scale utilities
• highway maintenance activities.

The county council receives more than 35,000 applications to work on the roads each year – 87 per cent of which come from utility companies – with approximately 600 live sites on the network at any one time.

The county council is responsible for the maintenance of more than 4,500km of roads in Oxfordshire. As in other parts of the UK, the condition of the road network has deteriorated over recent years as government funding has not kept up with need.

The report warns that the potential impact of housing and jobs growth on the county’s transport networks could see traffic on many junctions exceed capacity by 2031, with severe delays on many routes, especially the A34, A40, A338 and A4074.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the adoption of the updated policy statement on Tuesday 20 September.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “The highway network is the lifeblood of the county and is the most valuable asset under the council’s control.

“Updating our approach to highway maintenance and asset management enables us to make sure it is more closely aligned with our policies and priorities. It means more active and sustainable modes of transport can be supported to offer a realistic alternative to private car use.

“We want to improve footways, cycleways and the facilities that better allow all network users to share the available space. This new approach will help to support our climate emergency work and improve access to nature and green spaces.”

The changes could involve adopting working practices, which have a lower carbon footprint, do more to support biodiversity and contribute to improved environmental conditions.

It could also mean prioritising a greater proportion of resources towards a strategy of preventative maintenance to reduce the need for reactive repairs.

In the last decade, there has been a growing national move by highway authorities towards managing their networks to achieve specific strategic objectives, rather than simply maintaining and operating them to meet their legal requirements. It is widely recognised that the highway network, if managed effectively, can enable economic, societal and environmental benefit and change.

The updated approach does not adversely affect the council’s ability to fulfil its other legal obligations. These include a duty to maintain roads in a safe condition, a duty to keep the traffic moving on the road network and the management of flood risk associated with extreme weather.

Oxfordshire’s highway network assets, which are valued at more than £6 billion, include:

• 3,000 miles of road
• 160,000 roadside drains
• 2,000 miles of footway
• 435 traffic signal junctions
• 1,200 bridges
• 400,000 highway trees
• 80,000 streetlights
• 2,600 miles of countryside rights of way
• 50,000 traffic signs.

The updated approach is intended to be more aligned to the policies set out in the emerging Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP). It will also support the council’s commitment to Vision Zero – an ambition to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050.

The LTCP was adopted by Oxfordshire County Council earlier this year. Its ambition is to create a net zero transport system by 2040, improving health and wellbeing, tackling the climate emergency, reducing private vehicle use and prioritising walking, cycling and public transport.

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Marsh Lane in Oxford, which carries around 10,000 vehicles a day along a key city route, will be used to trial GiPave – a graphene-enhanced asphalt material. Half of a 700-metre stretch of the road will be laid with GiPave, while the rest will be resurfaced using conventional asphalt, so that the two surfaces can be compared accurately.

Oxfordshire County Council is carrying out the trial with its contractor Milestone Infrastructure to develop the use of innovative materials. Marsh Lane will be the second trial of GiPave in Oxfordshire, following a successful pilot scheme in Curbridge in 2019 – the first use of the product in the UK.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “We are committed to improving the quality of the county’s roads as best we can within the limited budget we get from the government. That’s why we’re so keen to be at the forefront of innovation by using new materials such as GiPave, which will keep our road surfaces in a better condition for longer – meaning better value for money for our council taxpayers and smoother surfaces for motorists.”

Increasing the lifespan of road surfaces will reduce the need for resurfacing work, ease the burden on highways budgets, and cut carbon emissions for the life cycle of a stretch of road.

Phil Raven, Head of Technical Design for Milestone on the Oxfordshire Contract, said: “This is an important trial to further test the benefits that this innovative material can bring. As we look for new ways to reduce carbon emissions within highways maintenance, developing materials that last longer is an important part of our plan towards net zero.

“Not only can this lead to longer term carbon reduction, it has the potential to reduce disruption to road users and achieve long-term savings for highway authorities. This trial project demonstrates the benefits of industry collaboration with a highway authority that is committed to trialling new innovations.”

GiPave, which has been developed by Iterchimica, also uses waste plastics that would not normally be recycled. Meanwhile the asphalt containing GiPave can itself be entirely recycled – promoting the ‘circular economy,’ which reduces waste and the need for new materials.

Analysis of the previous trial in 2019 at Curbridge showed GiPave increases the lifespan of the surface by up to 70 per cent compared to conventional resurfacing methods. The risk of rutting under loads from heavy goods vehicles is reduced by increased stiffness in the product.

This Marsh Lane trial is aiming to review how the material compares on part of the network that is carrying more traffic. Initial design calculations estimate Milestone Infrastructure’s use of the GiPave material can deliver at least a 35 per cent increase in durability compared to other high-performance materials.

The Marsh Lane roadworks are part of a £1 million, nine-week project of resurfacing between the A40 Northern Bypass overbridge and Brookfield Crescent, kerb and footway repairs and drainage improvements.

The first phase started on Monday 24 January and will last for six weeks. It will include kerb and footway repairs and drainage improvements. It will be carried out during the day under temporary traffic signals.

The second phase is due to start on Monday 7 March and will last for three weeks. This will be carried out in stages and will involve the closure of Marsh Lane, with signed diversion routes in place during this period. Work will be carried out from 7pm - 6am and Marsh Lane will be fully reopened to traffic outside of these periods.

To minimise the impact to residents during the night-time working phase, the noisiest activities will stop by 11pm. Although the remaining operations are not completely silent, the site team will be briefed to complete the work with as little disruption and as quietly as is practicably possible.

More information about the project, including regular updates, can be found on the Marsh Lane webpage of the Oxfordshire County Council website.

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Commuters, residents, and businesses in Banbury can have their say from today (16 November) on proposed improvement works at Tramway Road, near Banbury Station, until 14 December 2021.

Oxfordshire County Council has today launched a consultation to gather views on plans to improve the road layout and facilities around Banbury Station – and ultimately access to the station – for cyclists, pedestrians and those using public transport. The aim is to improve journey times for buses, taxis, pedestrians and cyclists, connectivity between southern Banbury and Banbury town centre and reduce congestion from the A4260/Bridge Street junction, improving air quality.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “Banbury residents rightly demand better ways to get around on foot, by bike or scooter, or on buses and taxis. We all want to see the train station better used and improved. An improved link between Banbury's great town centre to the railway station will provide a platform for regeneration of Oxfordshire's largest town. The proposed works will make buses link better with trains, as well as improving access for pedestrians and cyclists. The Tramway Road improvements will mean better bus connectivity from the south of Banbury to the town centre and make it easier for Banbury residents to make walking, cycling, catching a bus, getting a taxi, or taking a train part of their daily routine.”

Proposals include:

• Extending Tramway Road to Station Approach.
• Providing a pedestrian, cycle, bus and taxi only connection between Bridge Street and Tramway Road via Banbury Station.
• Improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists by providing a new footway and cycleway from Tramway Road to the station forecourt.
• Adding new bus stops at the station and an additional car passenger drop off and collection facility on Tramway Road.
• Providing new vehicle access to the station surface car park via Tramway Road.
• Improving access to the western station car park from the south of the town.

The improvement work is part of the wider regeneration of Banbury and has been designed to support the Cherwell Local Plan , Banbury Vision and Masterplan SPD, Local Transport Plan, and the emerging Oxfordshire Plan 2050.

The county council held a public consultation in early 2020 to gather initial feedback on the scheme. The revised proposals have been prepared using feedback from the previous consultation.

Following this second public consultation on the revised proposals, a planning submission will be made in winter 2021. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2022.

People can take part in the consultation by visiting https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/banburystation

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Oxfordshire County Council contractors took advantage of the milder weather between spring and autumn to treat 26 sites with ‘micro asphalt’ – a cost-effective and convenient method which protects surfaces for around 10 years.

After visiting the team in Carterton, Councillor Liam Walker, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Delivery and Operations said: “It was great to see our contractors in action recently whilst they carried out resurfacing work in West Oxfordshire as they concluded our micro asphalt programme for the year. Our new supplier for this service, Hazell & Jefferies, have done a brilliant job at various locations across Oxfordshire.

“I’m looking forward to seeing lots more of this work taking place in next year’s programme. This reaffirms our commitment to get our roads and pavements up to scratch as we continue to invest more money to achieve this.”

 ‘Micro’ is a surface treatment for protecting and prolonging the existing structural integrity of a carriageway without the need for more costly and disruptive repairs. The council has been running micro programmes since 2016, due to the number of advantages it has over conventional resurfacing:

• It is applied cold, so traffic can often use a treated road just 20 minutes after micro asphalt has been installed.
• More work can be completed during a day, minimising traffic disruption and congestion.
• It seals the surface, keeping out water from the pavement structure and minimising pothole formation.
• It can reshape and re-profile existing surfaces by filling shallow defects such as potholes, cracks and ruts.

This year’s programme treated 26 sites around Oxfordshire, covering 4.6km of carriageway with 76 tonnes of binder, 520 tonnes of stone and 5.3 tonnes of cement.

Although its initial appearance appears untidy and unfinished, as the treatment receives embedment from passing vehicles, mechanical sweeping to remove excess chippings, and absorption or evaporation of the chemicals within the mixture, the appearance will improve over the following weeks and months.

The standard material is typically used on residential roads but it can be installed on various classifications – including dual carriageways – with tweaks to the material specification.

Oxbike.co.uk currently displays live maps derived from real time data that show the number of cyclists and other road users at cycling hotspots, live travel times on some of Oxford’s key routes, and the current and historic trends of vehicle numbers on Oxfordshire’s streets. The goal in sharing live data is to demonstrate how easy it is to get around the city by cycling. It will also show how quick cycle journeys can be and encourage people to travel by bike or park & pedal. By presenting data on an easy to use website powered by the [ui!] Urban Pulse data service, the council can now share information about cycling patterns across Oxford. New data sources and technology will be included on oxbike.co.uk when developed to allow residents and visitors to unlock the potential of emerging smart city technology.

Data currently displayed on oxbike.co.uk is collected by Vivacity Lab sensors on the main cycle routes in and around Oxford. The sensors use artificial intelligence that continuously captures, anonymises, and classifies live transport movement including cars, pedestrians, cyclists and buses. Data from the sensors has been used to help develop cycling and walking strategy and policy, understand how Covid-19 restrictions have affected use of public space and to support teams to secure further funding for active travel.

Oxbike is another example of the collaborative innovation work the Oxfordshire County Council iHub has been doing. The iHub builds relationships between the council, academia and business to develop, test and use technology to improve peoples’ lives and drive investment within the county. Since 2015, the iHub has supported over 60 innovation projects; working with partners to deliver projects in Oxfordshire with funding that has come from a range of sources such as Innovate UK, H2020 and Gov Tech.

Cllr Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment said:

“Oxbike is a welcome contribution to our travel and transport work as a county and will enable the council and partners to better understand journey data. This will play a particularly important role as the council looks to expand and develop an upgraded cycling infrastructure amid the recovery from the pandemic and as we look to implement ways to cut emissions and wider transport plans including bus gates for Oxford.”

Llewelyn Morgan, Head of Innovation at Oxfordshire County Council said:

“There has been a lot of expectation of the benefit of connected vehicles, which are now becoming prevalent on our roads. Oxfordshire is committed to be at the forefront of this through enabling applications that benefit our communities. This project will develop an important application by connecting data with smart infrastructure to help improve our knowledge of road use and safety on the road for all users.”

Mark Nicholson, Chief Executive of Vivacity Labs said:

"We're really excited to see the Oxbike website open up our data to the public and look forward to seeing how Oxbike can improve active travel around Oxfordshire."

Visit the site: www.oxbike.co.uk

The Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council cabinet decisions to proceed with the Connecting Oxford transport proposals were informed by more than 3,000 responses to the autumn 2019 engagement exercise on proposals for new bus gates across Oxford and a workplace parking levy (WPL) in the city’s Eastern Arc - an area outside the city centre that links parts of north Oxford, Marston, Headington and Cowley.

The goal of the two councils with Connecting Oxford is to make a real improvement to journey times for commuters, other travellers and quality of life for residents and visitors, including improved air quality, by reducing the number of cars travelling into and around the city and encouraging more people to travel by public transport, walking and cycling. More active travel by cycling and walking will also have added health benefits for citizens. Proposals will also significantly reduce carbon emissions from transport, which accounts for 17% of annual greenhouse gas emissions in Oxford.

The detailed design and appraisal of the proposals will take into account feedback raised during the recent engagement exercise held in autumn 2019. Over 3,000 views were submitted on proposals from the public and variety of stakeholders including businesses, employers, parish councils and community groups. The survey revealed significant support for change in transport in Oxford, including backing from Oxford University and the NHS as large employers in the area. Funding for this stage of work, estimated to be £1.602 million has been secured.

The proposals for Connecting Oxford aim to create a series of benefits to residents, businesses and employees including a better public transport and a walking and cycling network that is continuous and high-quality. This includes a key new bus service linking employment sites in the eastern area to other parts of the city, county towns and Park & Ride. This will be enabled by revenue from the WPL and the service will run every 12 minutes through the day. Reduced traffic would also mean bus journeys in and around the city are quicker, more reliable and enable more road space for wider cycle lanes and public realm.

Severe traffic congestion is having a negative impact on existing bus services. Oxford Bus Company has confirmed bus speeds in the centre of Oxford are 38% slower than in 2006, and so to ensure the timetable is met it has to put around one third more buses on the road. This, together with falling passenger numbers as a result of the slower journey times, has hit profitability, which is down by two-thirds. If not addressed, this unsustainable trend could see further impact on less profitable city and rural services.

The key points of the proposals are:

• Three new bus gates are proposed at Worcester Street, Thames Street and St Cross Road/South Parks Road to reduce the number of motor vehicle trips which pass through the city centre
• In the Eastern Arc of Oxford, two new bus gates on Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way are proposed to cut traffic on the B4495.
• A Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) is proposed across Oxford’s Eastern Arc, an area that covers north, east and south-east Oxford inside the ring road
• Those affected by the WPL, including employers and their employees, would directly benefit from grants for onsite sustainable travel improvements and parking management and discounts on bus fares, park & ride buses and parking and discounts on bike purchases

There will also be a significant and rapid expansion of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) across Oxford, including nine new CPZ schemes that the county council has already approved for formal consultation. In addition to the traffic measures in the city, other traffic management schemes, including ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’, might be required to ensure traffic is not displaced and residential roads are not used to circumvent restrictions.

A Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) will be an annual charge paid by employers for each parking space they provide, on or off-site, that is used for employee (commuter) car parking. Operational parking is exempt from a WPL as are fleet, visitor and customer car parking spaces. The revenue will also provide a locally controlled source of funding to be used for new and improved bus services as well as funding for additional Park & Ride capacity and better walking and cycling routes.

Several individuals and organisations, including some large employers, expressed support for alternative options, including a congestion charge or expansion of the WPL area. Alternative options will be considered as part of the feasibility study at the next stage as required as part of the DfT business case process.

Plans to go ahead with the steps included in the study will be open to further participation by the public, business, employers and other city organisations to address concerns and technical details. This includes the creation of the ‘Connecting Oxford Partnership’, involving a number of employers within the proposed WPL zone, to help shape the proposals. Further engagement will also be conducted with those affected by traffic restrictions, including residents and community groups, smaller employers and businesses. This will include face to face meetings and other forms of engagement.

Now that county and city council cabinets have endorsed proposals for the development of Connecting Oxford, further stakeholder engagement will be carried during the rest of 2020; with the next public consultation expected to take place in winter 2020/21.

Cllr Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment said:

“The recent public survey on the concepts of Connecting Oxford underlined a widespread understanding that doing nothing to address traffic congestion in the city is no longer an option. More than 60% of all journeys into Oxford are currently by car despite the fact that average car and bus speeds into the city are slowing. The Oxford Bus Company says that bus speeds in the centre of Oxford are now 38% slower than in 2006 and they have had to increase the number of buses on the road by around a third to meet their timetables. Without action, car-dependency is likely to continue as more jobs are created. We will work closely with employers, commuters and residents to develop travel options across the city that allow for efficient movement to work, school and for leisure that have the minimum impact on the environment.”

Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Oxford City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainable Transport said:

“At a time when both the City and County Councils have formally recognised the climate emergency, we need to take decisive action to reduce the impacts of car traffic on Oxford and Oxfordshire. Those impacts are much more than air pollution, serious though that is. That’s why we need to drastically lower the number of vehicles as well as making sure that those that remain are as clean and green as possible. Cutting car traffic will allow buses to run more efficiently, and free up space for safe and secure routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Cities all across the world are leaving behind the era when private cars were the dominant form of transport; Oxford needs to do the same.”

Connecting Oxford is part of a wider local transport plan which aims to improve connectivity, reduce emissions and support sustainable growth across Oxford and Oxfordshire. Over the past year, both councils consulted on their Zero Emission Zone proposals to tackle vehicle air pollution and improve public transport connections into and across Oxford. Together the two schemes aim to create zero emission transport system across Oxford and Oxfordshire.

Background:

An engagement exercise to get feedback from the public and stakeholders on the Connecting Oxford proposals was held in late 2019. Over 3,000 responses were received in total; 2932 responded via an online survey (95% of which responded in a personal capacity with the remainder (5%) responding on behalf of a business, employer or other organisation). Respondents included employers comprising businesses and other organisations, as well as parish councils and community interest groups.

In summary, the feedback confirms there is recognition that doing nothing is not an option. Overall, only a minority of online survey respondents – both among the public (25%) and stakeholders (32%) – believed the proposed WPL would make journeys worse. Feedback on the proposed bus gates was more balanced, with a minority of the public (42%) responding that these would make their journey worse, while a small majority of stakeholders (53%) believed their journeys would be worse.

Several individuals and stakeholders indicated that proposals should go further – including extending the current proposed WPL zone to other parts of the city - or requested further justification for not extending the current proposed WPL zone to other parts of the city.

What happens next?

The timetable below outlines the development of a detailed scheme and Department for Transport compliant business case will now be undertaken between January/February 2020 and Autumn 2021, with the scheme designed and assessed to ensure any adverse impacts are mitigated.

Further consultation and engagement will be undertaken as part of the next phase of work. This includes the creation of the ‘Connecting Oxford Partnership’ to help shape proposals and involving employers and businesses affected by the WPL, including those representing health and education sectors and the private sector. The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and other Oxfordshire district councils will also need to be involved.

There will continue to be a regular flow of communications through media and social media countywide to ensure high levels of public awareness over the proposals.

Map:

Timetable:

January 2020 – county and city councils Cabinets to decide how to proceed with developing Connecting Oxford.

January-October 2020 – develop more detailed proposals and continue discussions with stakeholders.

Winter 2020/21 - formal consultation on a detailed proposal.

May/June 2021 - possible Public Inquiry.

Autumn 2021 - request for Department for Transport approval (as required).

For more information contact:

Oxfordshire County Council

Press office

01865 323 870

press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Oxford City Council

Press office

01865 252096

pressoffice@oxford.gov.uk

As you can see from the pictures the big machinery was brought out to remove a layer and replace it with nice new, flat 'blacktop'.

Two new south-facing slip roads at the Lodge Hill Interchange will help end years of congestion and pave the way for up to 1,700 new homes in Abingdon.

The long-awaited scheme, which will receive up to £9.45 million over 4 years, will also boost growth in the wider Science Vale area, where up to 20,000 new jobs and 20,000 new homes will be created by 2031.

This is on top of the £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund, announced earlier this month, which will pay for local infrastructure across the country to support local housing delivery.

 Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:

“Local leaders in Oxfordshire want to go for growth, and so that’s why I’ve pledged more than £9 million of Government cash for this A34 upgrade scheme.

“Most people are willing to accept new housing in their areas, but they don’t want to see massive development when local roads are already under pressure.

“This funding will bring much-needed improvements to the A34 for motorists and help to deliver thousands of new homes that Oxfordshire desperately needs.

“This is thanks to the hard work of former MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Nicola Blackwood, who tirelessly campaigned for this interchange to receive Government funding, working closely with Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.”

Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council said:

“The County Council is pleased to see Oxfordshire’s growth ambitions recognised by the funding announcement today. The delivery of much needed housing in and around Abingdon is heavily reliant on funding for new slips at Lodge Hill.

"Residents have been concerned that large numbers of houses will be built before the necessary highway infrastructure is in place. This announcement means that vital infrastructure will be built at the early phase of development to cope with the associated additional traffic.

"Oxfordshire County Council will continue to work with our partners at Highway’s England to deliver the scheme as quickly as possible to ensure Oxfordshire is a thriving place to live and work.”

Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of OxLEP, said:

“This announcement represents a further positive step in ensuring Oxfordshire has an infrastructure that is fit for purpose, supporting the county’s desire to grow.

“Securing a strong infrastructure is a priority for OxLEP and we are confident that this prioritised Local Growth Fund investment will bring a variety of benefits across a number of key areas.

“We expect the Lodge Hill investment to unlock greater housing growth in the area, give better connectivity to key ‘hubs’ – such as Milton Park and the Harwell campus – as well as relieving pressure around the A34 Marcham Interchange.”