Oxfordshire County Councils Department for Transport's (DfT) Structures Fund submission

Oxfordshire County Council has submitted a bid to the Department for Transport's (DfT) Structures Fund to secure investment in the long-term maintenance and strengthening of Donnington Bridge, a key transport link across the River Thames in Oxford. The council is seeking £8 million of Government funding and has committed a local contribution of £2 million towards the estimated £10 million scheme cost. 

Donnington Bridge carries the B4495 Donnington Road and forms an important part of Oxford's transport network, providing connections between communities on either side of the River Thames and supporting access to jobs, education, healthcare, businesses and local services. The bridge is used by thousands of people each day, including motorists, bus passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.  

Built in 1962, the bridge is one of more than 1,300 highway structures managed by Oxfordshire County Council. Like all major transport assets, it is subject to routine inspection, monitoring and maintenance throughout its life. Recent engineering assessments have identified the need for a significant strengthening programme to ensure the bridge can continue to serve the city for many years to come. 

The proposed scheme would involve strengthening key elements of the structure and carrying out associated maintenance activities, including improvements to waterproofing, surfacing and bridge components. The aim is to extend the life of the asset, maintain network resilience and reduce the need for more disruptive and costly interventions in the future. 

The council has already invested significant resources in inspections, investigations, monitoring and the development of options for the bridge. However, the scale of the proposed strengthening scheme is beyond what can reasonably be funded through existing local structures' budgets alone. The council's annual structures budget must support maintenance and improvements across the entire countywide bridge and structures portfolio, requiring investment decisions to be prioritised using a risk-based asset management approach. 

The bid to the DfT Structures Fund reflects the bridge's importance within Oxford's transport network and the benefits that investment would bring. By extending the life of the existing structure, the scheme would help maintain a reliable river crossing, support public transport and active travel, improve network resilience and provide long-term value for money through a planned preventative maintenance approach. 

The proposal also aligns with Oxfordshire County Council's wider commitment to managing highway infrastructure through a data-led and evidence-based asset management approach. This focuses on investing in the right assets at the right time to maximise the lifespan of infrastructure, minimise disruption to road users and make the best use of available public funding. 

If the funding bid is successful, the project would progress through detailed design, approvals and procurement before construction, with current planning assumptions indicating delivery later in the 2029. Further consultation and stakeholder engagement would take place as the scheme develops. 

The Department for Transport will now consider submissions from local authorities across England as part of the national Structures Fund programme. Oxfordshire County Council will provide updates as further information becomes available.