Didcot and surrounding area infrastructure improvements
About the improvements
The Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure 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 highway 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.
Key benefits:
- 19km of walking and cycling paths to improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity for work and leisure trips
- 18 new bus stops to provide more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot
- Reduce congestion and improve air quality in surrounding villages and parishes
- Enable more jobs in the local area in new and existing employment sites
- Support expected housing growth in the local area
Compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and side road orders (SROs)
The Side road order (SRO) and compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the Didcot and surrounding area infrastructure improvements has been confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport.
Scheme benefits
Your questions answered
Take a look at a flyover of the scheme
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What is happening when?
Enabling works
Enabling works have started on the Clifton Hampden Bypass and Didcot to Culham River Crossing sections.
The enabling works scheduled for completion between Autumn and Winter 2025 include:
- Erection of temporary fencing, including tree protection measures
- Archaeological investigations
- Site clearance to facilitate archaeological activities
- Set up of main compounds, site offices, and welfare facilities
- Utility diversions
Most of the work will be carried out between 7.30am and 6pm, Monday through Friday, unless specified as overnight work.
There will be no work on Sundays or public holidays.
The majority of this work is taking place off the existing highway network; however, people may notice activity when travelling along the A4130, B4016, A415, and A4015, as well as from nearby public rights of way and the Thames footpath.
Festive period closure
Work will also take a break over the festive period - stopping on Friday 19 December 2025 and resuming on Monday 5 January 2026. Sites will be made secure, and no activity will take place.
Traffic management in mid-January
For our work on the Clifton Hampden Bypass, we will need to place some road cones along the edge of the carriageway at the entrance to the Culham Science Centre. This is to prepare for the construction of a new footpath. The cones will mark out our work area from the main carriageway. It is not envisaged that this traffic management will impede the flow of traffic on the A415 nor the entrance to Culham Science Centre, however we do advise people to be aware, plan accordingly and drive carefully, for their own safety and that of the contractor workforce.
Survey works
There will be a series of survey works for the Didcot Science Bridge section of the scheme between December 2025 and May 2026.
Utility Survey Works (intrusive)
Between 15 December 2025 and February 2026, excavation and trail holes will be undertaken along the A4130 (opposite Backhill Tunnel and near Stert Brook). The surveys aim to confirm the exact locations and depths of existing utilities to inform ongoing detailed design.
Daytime works (8am – 4pm) are planned for December 2025, while nighttime works (8pm – 6am) are scheduled for the second week of January 2026. The work will take place alongside the A4130, off the main carriageway and may not be visible to the public. There will be minimal noise.
An additional trial hole investigation will be conducted in January along Milton Road near to the junction to Hachette UK.
Ground investigations
A series of boreholes will be dug along the existing A4130 and the proposed scheme layout near the old power station to assess the geotechnical properties of the soil along the proposed route of this section of the scheme.
This is planned to start in January 2026. The work will mostly take place off the main carriageway, except for one location on the A4130, between Cow Lane and Dudcote Field. This location will require a 24-hour traffic management arrangement and a lane closure for a 2-week period in late-January. The eastbound lane (towards Didcot town centre) will be closed, and temporary 2-way traffic lights will be in operation.
Contamination ground investigation
The purpose of this survey is to investigate potential contamination levels within the proposed work location. This will take place within the old power station site, between Purchase Road and the Hawksworth Roundabout.
Work is planned to start in January 2026.
Soil resource
This survey is to understand the potential re-use of any agricultural soil that is to be stripped. Work will take place at multiple locations along the route. Work is planned to start in January 2026.
How it is being funded
Funding for the scheme comes from a combination of Homes England grant funding, Enterprise Oxfordshire capital investment, Section 106 contributions from developers and funds from the council's own capital budget.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the delivery team.
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