A LANDMARK has been reached in the £44m scheme to replace the Wolvercote viaduct on the A34 north of Oxford.

More than a year after work began to replace the worn-out 1960s viaduct, contractors have lifted the deck of the new northbound carriageway into place on its piers.

The Highways Agency is replacing the current viaduct, which opened in 1961 as part of the Oxford Western Bypass, because engineers decided further repairs to the structure would not be cost-effective.

The new deck will now be surfaced with concrete and asphalt and is expected to open in October.

Once northbound traffic is using the new deck, this will allow the demolition of the old southbound structure – in use at present by northbound traffic – to allow new piers to be built.

When they are ready, the deck of the temporary viaduct which is currently carrying southbound traffic will be slid into place on the new piers to complete the new southbound viaduct.

This final phase of the reconstruction scheme is due for completion in June next year. Highways Agency spokesman Roger Jones said: “The A34 Wolvercote viaduct replacement scheme remains on budget and on schedule. In the past two weeks we have erected more than 800 tonnes of steel beams using a 1,000-tonne mobile crane.”

For more information, see highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/ 14397.aspx