Construction on new A40 slip roads will finally be able to start after 15 years after contracts were approved by Oxfordshire County Council.

The £25million scheme will build two slip roads at Shores Green junction so East Witney traffic can access the westbound A40 without travelling through the town centre.

Consultation took place in May 2021 and plans were lodged in April 2022, and compulsory purchase was approved in May 2023.

The project will reduce congestion and improve air quality in Witney town centre, said the county council.

The decision to award the contract for construction to Milestone Infrastructure was approved on August 15 by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy.  

The new slip roads are part of the Witney area strategy which is aimed at improving travel between Witney and the A40.

When the project is complete, traffic from northeast Witney will be able to travel westbound on the A40 towards Burford, bypassing the town centre, Bridge Street, and the A40/Ducklington Lane junction. 

(Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy, said: “I’m pleased to see progress in another element of the A40 programme which is delivering improvements to the A40 between Witney and Oxford.  

“In addition to the slip roads, the scheme will provide new walking and cycling facilities on the B4022 and alongside the A40 that will improve connections between South Leigh, High Cogges and Witney and to the path along the A40 to Oxford.

"These improvements demonstrate the council’s commitment to better connectivity and infrastructure not only for buses and cars but also for those walking, wheeling and cycling.” 

Last month 20mph limits and traffic calming features were approved for South Leigh village to prevent rat-running when the new slip roads are built.

It has been in the planning for nearly 15 years.

Labour councillor Duncan Enright has been campaigning for the improvements since 2010.

In that time the costs have increased five-fold as he said building the junction "got stuck in traffic repeatedly" due to "an unbelievable amount of bureaucracy".

The estimated total value of the scheme has risen from £4.5million to £25million.  

Mr Enright admitted materials had become more expensive with time.

He said: "We're getting a great infrastructure but it cost more than anybody could believe so we are constantly looking for ways to get good value for money."

Conservative councillor Liam Walker said the connection would "make significant improvements to the town centre and help reduce congestion and pollution" but called the cost of the scheme "staggering".

 The scheme is funded through a combination of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal and Section 106 contributions from developers. 

Following the contract award, enabling work for construction is expected to begin in September, with major construction works starting in November.

It is hoped the slip roads will be completed in late 2025.

Oxfordshire County Council has been trying to cut congestion in the town centre bottleneck of Bridge Street which falls short of national air quality standards for decades.

The plans replaced the former Cogges Link Road scheme, rejected in 2012 following opposition from landowners.

The Cogges Link Road would have connected Witan Way to Oxford Hill by diverting traffic through a country park.

The improvements at Shores Green junction will support the delivery of major new housing development sites planned in east and north Witney as part of the West Oxfordshire Local Plan.