A4130 Steventon Lights integrated transport scheme
Scheme to support growth in both housing and employment planned in the Science Vale area.
About the improvements
The A4130 Steventon Lights integrated transport scheme aims to provide improved bus journey time savings and reliability, enhanced walking and cycling facilities, and support growth in both housing and employment in the Science Vale area.
Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday 17 November and will take about 12 months to complete.
Why are we investing here?
The area will see significant growth in housing and employment in the coming years. Investment is needed now so that the transport network can meet the demands of the future.
The aims of the A4130 Steventon Lights integrated transport scheme are to:
- facilitate improvement to public transport
- provide suitable infrastructure to encourage the use of sustainable and active travel modes (walking, wheeling, cycling)
- improve safety for all road users
- reduce congestion and capacity issues
- improve journey time reliability
- facilitate planned growth in the area
What to expect during construction
Delivery of the scheme will involve:
- widening of the A4130 Abingdon Road between the Steventon lights junction and the Milton Interchange with the provision of an eastbound bus lane.
- upgrading the Trenchard Avenue junction to increase capacity to facilitate future growth and feature quality active travel infrastructure to support journeys on foot and by cycle.
- eastbound bus lane between Steventon High Street junction with A4130 and Milton Interchange.
- dedicated cycleway and footway facilities for pedestrians and cyclists along A4130 between Steventon High Street junction with A4130 and Trenchard Avenue.
- Real-time bus information, including green-roof bus shelters and cycle parking to create a transport hub.
- addition of new traffic lights with crossing points at Trenchard Avenue/ A4130.
- upgrade of Steventon High Street traffic lights with crossing points.
To prepare for construction, work has already been completed to survey the area, clear vegetation, divert utilities and clean all surface water drainage along the route.
The project will then be built in six phases, with phase one starting on Monday 17 November. More information about the other phases will be provided in the new year.
Phase one – 17 November 2025 to 19 December 2025
We will set up the site compound off Trenchard Avenue. We will also clear vegetation during off-peak traffic under two-way traffic lights.
A one-way traffic system will be temporarily introduced allowing traffic to exit only onto the A4130 from Trenchard Avenue. The alternative route for traffic accessing Trenchard Avenue from A4130 will be via Milton Hill. Temporary traffic signs will be prominently displayed. Emergency services and works vehicles are exempt.
Diversion map from 17 November
Night work will take place from 17 to 26 November, 7pm to 5am, at the High Street junction for duct crossing work under temporary multi-way signals; from 17 to 22 November, 9pm to 5am, at Trenchard Avenue and A4130 towards Milton Interchange for duct crossing work; and from 25 November to 3 December for temporary footway installation under two-way traffic lights.
Phase one will finish on 19 December and there will be no traffic management in place over Christmas and New Year.
Phase two – January 2026
Phase two will begin with night work to remove traffic islands and daytime work to install a temporary roundabout at the junction of Steventon High Street and the A4130.
The Trenchard Avenue access off and on to A4130 will be closed for the remainder of construction, with traffic diverted via Milton Hill. Drivers through the area should watch out for temporary traffic signals and any new signage.
Work in the new year will involve widening the A4130 Abingdon Road, improving the Trenchard Avenue junction and installing new traffic lights, bus shelters and cycle parking.
Temporary speed restrictions will be in place during the works.
More information on the six phases of the project:
- Pre-Christmas 2025 work to install duct crossings and temporary footways will be carried out overnight.
- Phases 2, 3, and 4 will involve carriageway widening, earthworks, drainage, footway works, signage, street lighting, and surfacing.
- Phase 2 will start in January 2026 with work to remove traffic islands and install a roundabout at the High Street / Steventon Hill junction. Subject to approvals, a temporary roundabout will be installed at the Milton Hill/A4130 junction. Work will take place in three main areas, located on the north side of the High Street / Steventon Hill signalised junction, the verge on the east side of High Street signalised junction, and the land to the south of A4130 between Trenchard Avenue and Milton Interchange.
- Phase 3 will include works to the north side of the A4130, between the High Street junction and the pedestrian crossing / bus stops, and work on the south side of the A4130, to the west of Trenchard Avenue.
- Phase 4 will include works on the south side of A4130, between Trenchard Avenue junction and the bend before High St / Steventon Hill junction. There will also be works to the north side of A4130 leading to Milton Interchange, and on the south side of Trenchard Avenue. Kerbing and drainage works will take place on the west side of High Street / Steventon Hill, leading south of the A4130.
- Phase 5 includes finishing works on the south side of the A4130, between Trenchard Avenue and the bend before the High Street / Steventon Hill junction. It will also include works to the north side of A4130, opposite Trenchard Avenue, and leading to the Milton Interchange. New islands and traffic signals will be installed at the High Street junction.
- Phase 6 includes works to the north side of A4130, opposite Trenchard Avenue, and leading to the Milton Interchange. New traffic islands and signals will be installed on the A4130 / Trenchard Avenue junction, as well as commissioning the traffic signals, completing surfacing, and laying road markings.
This is subject to change.
Timescales
The project is being delivered in the following phases.
| Phase | Description | Timeline |
| Phase 1a | Vegetation clearance | Complete |
| Phase 1b | Compound site clearance | Complete |
| Phase 2a | Utility diversions | Ongoing |
| Telecommunications | Feb - June 2026 | |
| Electricity | April - July 2026 | |
| Phase 2b | Main compound set up | November 2025 |
| Phase 3 | Main construction works | November 2025 – late 2026 |
Minimising the impact
We will work hard to minimise disruption as much as possible. Construction access to/from the site compound will be provided via Trenchard Avenue.
Any traffic management measures will be continually monitored throughout each day of construction, so that we can respond quickly to traffic conditions as they happen. We advise residents and commuters to plan their travel routes accordingly and to anticipate potential delays.
Residents and commuters are kindly requested to exercise caution while passing through any road works. In the event of an incident on the A34, traffic management will be reduced to a minimum where possible (subject to safety) to ease congestion.
Traffic management arrangements will also be available at https://one.network.
Stay up to date on the work
You can email the team with a question or call our customer services team, who will arrange for someone to get in touch with you.
Email us: steventon.lights@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Call our customer services team: 01865 792 422
For information about other planned roadworks or incidents, visit https://one.network or sign up to https://twitter.com/OxonTravel.
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How it is being funded
The scheme is financed through City Deal and Housing and Growth Deal funding and Section 106 contributions.
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More information
Is planning consent required
No. As the scheme's design and construction are within the existing highway boundary, planning permission is not required.
Will the improvements increase the likelihood of flooding in the area?
As part of the scheme, all surface water drainage will be upgraded to alleviate the current flooding issues.
How much will it cost?
The A4130 Steventon Lights Integrated transport scheme will cost approximately £13.3million.
Where is the money coming from to pay for it?
It is being financed through a combination of City Deal, Housing and Growth Deal funding and Section 106 contributions from developers.
How will construction traffic access and leave the site?
Construction traffic will access the works sites via specific access points, which will be controlled by traffic management operatives. A site compound is located on Trenchard Avenue.
What is the width of the proposed cycleway and footway?
2.5m with 0.5m separation strip totalling 3m wide in accordance with LTN1/20 standards for 30mph.
How many new bus stops will there be, and what style?
Two new bus stops will be on either side of Trenchard Avenue. These will have living green roofs to help improve native biodiversity in the area.
Will there be temporary bus stops during the construction works? Where will these be located?
Temporary bus stops will be provided as close to existing ones during the construction phase.
Will there be a change to the speed limit on the A4130 between Steventon and the Milton Interchange?
Yes, when construction is finished, the speed limit within the scheme will be reduced to 30mph.
Will the road be street-lit?
Yes, the lighting will be LED and directional, eliminating light spill beyond the road surface.
Will there be noise and dust during construction?
Due to the nature of the work, there will be noise and dust during construction. However, we will ensure that water suppression is used to keep dust to a minimum and that noisy work will be undertaken sensitively during daytime hours where possible. There may be times when we need to work overnight. We will inform residents of these times and works and seek to mitigate any noise disturbance where possible.
What will the emergency services do?
Emergency services will have access at all times.
What will happen to the construction access upon completion of the works?
Construction access points and site compound areas will be cleaned and cleared and replanted upon completion and any fencing will be reinstated.
Will the contractor be using local subcontractors?
It is Oxfordshire County Council's policy to use local sub-contractors where possible.
Will the contractor employ apprentices?
It is Oxfordshire County Council's policy to ensure that each project employs apprentices where possible.
How is OCC considering the environmental impact of the planned improvements and will any trees or other vegetation be removed? If yes, what sort?
As a responsible council, we have undertaken a full arboricultural investigation and environmental assessment, as well as developed ecological method statements and construction and environmental management plans. These interventions will minimise and mitigate the impact on trees and the environment.
In preparation for the main construction, we began with early phase works, which involved clearing a site compound off Trenchard Avenue and clearing trees, vegetation, and scrub along the route. A field ecologist was on site to advise and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.
How can I ask a question, request further details, or make a compliment /complaint/comment?
You can email the project team at steventon.lights@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
Or write to:
Oxfordshire County Council,
County Hall,
New Road,
Oxford,
OX1 1ND.
You can keep up to date with the A4130 Steventon Lights integrated transport project by signing up to receive regular news and alerts from Oxfordshire County Council's Travel Bulletin.
Alternatively, you can find out more information about roadworks by visiting https://one.network or by signing up to https://twitter.com/OxonTravel, our dedicated profile on X, for the latest updates on road delays, planned roadworks or incidents that could affect your journey around Oxfordshire.