Oxfordshire County Council has appointed GRAHAM deliver the £38m Clifton Hampden Bypass section of the major infrastructure (HIF1) scheme. The appointment is the second of three contracts to be awarded to construct the scheme, which will help to reduce congestion, says the Oxford Mail.

A major scheme to improve travel through Didcot and the surrounding villages has reached another important milestone.

The project will enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, support new employment sites and housing in and around Didcot, and help facilitate new and enhanced bus services.

The Clifton Hampden Bypass section will re-route traffic on the A415 around the village of Clifton Hampden.

Judy Roberts, the county council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy, said:

“The A415 is a busy road that experiences a large amount of through traffic and congestion on the A415 to A4074. It runs right through Clifton Hampden, including past the village primary school.

“This bypass will completely transform that, moving traffic onto a new road to the north of the village.  I’m very pleased that we’ve successfully appointed a contractor to provide this much needed bypass.”

The bypass will provide a new single carriageway road, with segregated shared walking and cycling facilities, between the A415 at Culham Science Centre and the B4015 Oxford Road to the north of Clifton Hampden.

A new roundabout at the western end of the road will provide access to Culham Science Centre and Culham railway station.

New junctions will be provided to the east of the new roundabout and the existing A415 as well as at the north-eastern end of the new road.

(Picture: Oxfordshire County Council)