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
Note: This video has only music audio.
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 2025 and Spring 2026 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.
Traffic management reminders
Cones and safety barriers near UKAEA entrance
For our work on the Clifton Hampden Bypass, some road cones and safety barriers have been in place since early January, along the edge of the carriageway at the entrance to the Culham Science Centre. This is to segregate the construction area for a new footpath.
Temporary lights on B4016
There are some temporary traffic lights on the B4016. This is in place for approximately four months to facilitate the safe crossing of large construction vehicles across the B4016. The lights are manned during working hours and are only activated when large construction vehicles need to cross the road or access the site.
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 scheduled to start in the second week of February and last until the end of March 2026. Operating during off-peak hours (10am – 4pm) and some nighttime work (8pm – 4am), 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 two weeks (specific date to be confirmed shortly). The eastbound lane (towards Didcot town centre) will be closed, and temporary 2-way traffic lights will be in operation.
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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