Next phase of work along A40 at Wolvercote to begin

Cyclists, pedestrians, bus passengers and other road users are all set to benefit from the completion of the next stage of work to upgrade a length of the A40 in north west Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council will begin the main phase of work along the A40 from 11 February on a short section of the road just to the west of the Wolvercote roundabout. The upgrade is scheduled for completion in late 2021.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “This work will help deliver real and positive impacts on the lives of local people. These improvements will mean residents can look forward to riding on faster buses and better cycling and walking facilities. This, combined with the Housing Infrastructure Fund 2 (HIF 2) scheme for the A40 to Witney, will offer people a rapid means of travel along the road with the combined benefits of cleaner air, active travel and reduced congestion.”

The work is part of a multi-million pound investment into Oxfordshire’s infrastructure, including plans to improve the A40 with upgraded cycle and bus infrastructure as part of the county’s vision for improved active travel and public transport routes.

This stage will include full widening of the road to offer improved cycle/footpaths as well as a bus-only eastbound lane. This phase of work will also include the building of a small, temporary compound alongside the A40.

Signs will divert cyclists and pedestrians from one side of the A40 to the other at various stages via a temporary crossing to the west of the work area and the existing crossing at the Wolvercote roundabout. A suitable alternative route will therefore be available throughout the work.

Both lanes of the A40 will be kept open for most of the work but there will be traffic flow reduction with lane widths. Some night work is planned for this stage, but traffic access will continue, controlled by temporary traffic lights. There will also be a speed limit of 40mph in force.

The work has been designed to keep the area open to business as usual as far as possible.

The work is supported by the government’s Local Growth Fund, which has seen the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) – working alongside Oxfordshire County Council – secure £8.4 million of funding for the project.

This, and other significant investments into Oxfordshire’s infrastructure over the coming years, will not only help with transport connectivity and a shift to greener forms of transport but will also have a positive impact on the local economy and jobs.