Oxfordshire County Council has selected GRAHAM to construct the Didcot to Culham river crossing, a core element of the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) programme. It is the third and final construction contract to be awarded for the scheme.

The project is intended to deliver more reliable journey times, strengthen walking and cycling links, support new jobs and housing around Didcot, and enable enhanced bus services.

Works will create a new 3.6km single carriageway connecting the A4130 at the existing Collett roundabout in Didcot to the A415 at Culham. The route includes a bridge over the Appleford railway sidings and a new bridge over the River Thames, with segregated pedestrian and cycle facilities provided along the entire length.

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Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: "The Didcot to Culham river crossing will significantly reduce congestion in the area, and provide a safe route for walkers and cyclists. In particular, it will help relieve the congestion at the existing historic river crossings through Sutton Courtenay/Culham villages, and also at Clifton Hampden.

"These existing local bridges are old and not suitable for modern levels of traffic movement. They are often congested and subject to flooding in the winter months. This new crossing over the River Thames will help improve traffic flow, public transport journey times and reliability, and offer more resilience for public transport from flooding.

"The entire Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure scheme will give people more choice in how they travel, with improved conditions for active and sustainable kinds of travel which are better for everyone."

Andrew Henry, GRAHAM Contracts Director, said: "It is fantastic to have partnered with Oxfordshire County Council once again on another essential civil engineering project in the area.

"The Didcot to Culham river crossing is a complex project, which is ideally suited to our expertise. It will involve a complete overhaul of the current infrastructure, which is no longer fit for purpose, to deliver vital improvement works that support an enhanced quality of living for residents."