Oxfordshire County Council chairman Charles Shouler signalled the start of work on a new road in Didcot at a short turf-cutting ceremony yesterday.
The route will provide an alternative for traffic through the congested town centre and access to the planned £35m Orchard Centre development which will include a Sainsbury's supermarket, 28 other shops, an arts centre, new homes and a cinema.
The £5.3m road will run to the south of, and parallel to, the main railway line, through the site of the Garrick Studio and former railway hostel, which is being demolished, skirting Didcot Town Football Club's former Station Road ground and Rich's Sidings.
Initial works will involve major diversions to existing electric, water, gas and communication services at Cow Lane and Jubilee Way.
It will mean closing the Cow Lane bridge underpass to traffic later this month.
It is expected that the road will be completed by August.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article