Oxfordshire County Council are set to appoint Paul Fermer, its director of environment and highways, as the key figure in the Didcot to Culham River Crossing scheme.

This decision is subject to agreement of the target cost, agreement of the programme for the works, finalising the contract terms and confirmation that sufficient funding is allocated, says the Oxford Mail.

The Didcot to Culham River Crossing will see the construction of a road linking the A4130 at Didcot with the A415 at Culham, including bridges over the River Thames and a private rail siding.

The council entered contracts with Graham Construction Ltd and Aecom for the second stage of the HIF1 scheme in February 2025.

The HIF1 proposals include building a dual carriageway on the A4130 from the A34 Milton Interchange towards Didcot, new bridges, and a Clifton Hampden bypass.

Graham Construction will oversee the design of the Culham River crossing and the Clifton Hampden bypass.

Meanwhile Aecom will lead the design of the Didcot Science Bridge and the widening of the A4130.

The scheme was approved by cabinet in July 2024, securing total programme funding of £332.538m and an additional £79.6m contingency fund from Homes England, available at their discretion. The construction is expected to cost about £151m, although the exact target cost is still under negotiation.

(Picture: Oxfordshire County Council)