Start date set for Oxfordshire park and ride project

Published by

Sam Pither

Credit: iStock

Construction on an 850-space park and ride in Eynsham will begin on 17 October, with an expected completion in autumn 2023.

The new facility is part of £180 million of infrastructure improvements Oxfordshire County Council is undertaking to reduce congestion on the A40 and provide better public transport links into the Oxford city centre, known as the A40 Smart Corridor.

The work will include the installation of a new roundabout to aid access to the site.

The first phase of the project will see the Cuckoo lane site cleared and a perimeter fence erected, with overnight road closures in place from the junction to the A40 to the SSE substation between 25 October and 7 November.

Once complete, the facility will feature electric vehicle parking bays, cycle storage, public toilets and 24-hour security.

The project feeds into a larger HIF2 upgrade scheme, which also includes the creation of dual carriageways linking east Witney to the park and ride, an integrated bus lane between the new facility and Duke’s Cut bridges at Wolvercote roundabout, improved cycle and footpaths and improvements to the Duke’s Cut bridge.

In total, it will cost around £180 million, funded by £102 million from the county council’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, £35 million from the Department for Transport retained Local Growth Fund, £18 million from the Housing and Growth Deal and £11.5 million from the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, with the remaining balance coming from Section 106 developer contributions.

In order to minimise harm to the local environment, a professional Ecological Clerk of Works will supervise work which may impact flora and fauna. They will also undergo a weekly audit of site activities throughout construction.

For a year following completion, a qualified ecologist will monitor the ecological enhancement measures. All retained hedgerows and trees will be protected using fencing specified in the arboricultural method of works to protect the root zone, trunk, and canopy.

Featured image: iStock

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.