The first excavation of the Eynsham park and ride was carried out with a ceremony at the site.
Local councillors joined construction partner Balfour Beatty and Stagecoach West at the event celebrating 'the breaking of ground' on Monday (12/12).
Attendees were shown artist impressions of the completed park and ride, before the event to mark the start of construction scheduled for early January.
Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “I’m really pleased to celebrate the impending start of construction with some of our key partners in this project.
“I’m looking forward to watching the Eynsham park and ride take shape over the next couple of years. Once complete it will encourage more people out of their cars and onto a more sustainable mode of transport – one of our brilliant buses.
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“The park and ride is one part of wider improvements we have planned for the A40 and we are committed to improving people’s journeys along this crucial road.”
The new £51million 850-space park and ride aims to reduce congestion on the A40.
The site will be open 24 hours a day and will include cycle storage, public toilets, and electric vehicle parking bays.
Oxfordshire County Council said it was "part of significant investment in the A40 to deliver better facilities for walking, cycling and those using public transport" and will "provide regular and reliable public transport services into and beyond Oxford from the west".
The park and ride is estimated to be complete in early 2024 and will open in late 2025, once other A40 improvements are completed.
Preparations were made in November for heavy machinery to be brought in, and key excavation and earthworks will start in the first week of January following the Christmas and New Year break.
Chris Hall, Portfolio Director at Balfour Beatty, said: “Marking the next phase of the programme of improvements planned on the A40 corridor, the scheme will provide residents and commuters in Eynsham and beyond with a reliable public transport service into Oxford.”
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The county council has recently undertaken a review of the HIF2 A40 improvement scheme due to inflationary pressures.
An update on the delivery of the scheme is expected in early 2023.
The Eynsham park and ride, which is fully funded, will proceed as planned.
Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: "We are excited to see the work starting on site and will look forward to seeing the progress as it evolves.
"This park and ride will be an important transport hub providing sustainable travel options for people to connect to great bus links."
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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris
Profile: Miranda Norris Journalists news from the Oxford Mail
Profile: Miranda Norris Journalists news from the Oxford Mail
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