Oxfordshire County Council representatives met Oxford’s two MPs on Friday 23 January to discuss the deteriorating A423 Kennington rail bridge and its strategic importance to the city’s transport network.

Councillor Judy Roberts, council officers and the Environment Agency met with Layla Moran MP and Anneliese Dodds MP to review the condition of the bridge’s bearings and concrete, the temporary propping beneath it, and the potential impact of any future lane closures or weight restrictions.

Part of the southern bypass, the bridge carries around 50,000 vehicles a day and links major science, technology and business sites across Oxford. It is also a crucial element of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OFAS), with the replacement designed to allow flood water to pass more freely.

The council is seeking central government funding for the replacement after identifying a £71 million shortfall last year. It has written to the chancellor and the secretary of state for transport, highlighting the case for support from the Department for Transport’s £1 billion Structures Fund.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action said: "Replacing Kennington rail bridge is essential for the future resilience of our local road network and the continued growth of science and technology opportunities. Without its replacement, traffic crossing the bridge may be restricted, greatly impacting local businesses and residents.

"A new bridge is also a vital part of the Oxford Flood Alleviation scheme, with the bridge design allowing more capacity for flood water and working as part of the scheme to protect from future flooding.

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"The support from both MPs underlines our shared commitment to ensuring the bridge is replaced as soon as possible. We will continue to work with our MPs and other partners to secure central government funding."

The project's total estimated cost is currently £180 million, reflecting engineering challenges and inflation in construction materials. The remaining cost is being met by Oxfordshire County Council and the Environment Agency, with wider funding for the A423 Kennington improvements also involving the Department for Transport and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Built in 1965, the bridge must be replaced while keeping traffic moving under management during construction. Works will require diverting a water main and fibre optic connections, considering nearby overhead electricity cables, and coordinating around a busy passenger and freight railway line.

Subject to securing full funding, the council intends to deliver a package including the rail bridge replacement, improved walking and cycling routes, and a new eastbound bus and park and ride lane. The programme also includes increasing the Hinksey streams’ capacity for flood alleviation and maintenance on the Kennington road bridge.

Background inspections after the route was de-trunked in 2003 identified corrosion and over-rotation of bearings, which cannot be replaced due to the bridge’s construction. The structure has been propped at its piers since 2016 and is regularly monitored, with the most recent inspection in August 2025. It sits above the same rail section affected by the 2023 Nuneham viaduct closure.

Planning permission for the improvements was granted in October 2024. Detailed design work, construction methodologies and required surveys are close to completion. Cost pressures arise from inflation, complex temporary works needed to keep the road open during reconstruction, and utility diversions including a two-stage Thames Water pipe diversion.

The Kennington improvements are closely linked to the Environment Agency-led OFAS, which will create a new stream and wetland wildlife corridor to reduce flood risk in Oxford and surrounding areas. The scheme will pass beneath the new bridge, whose design allows flood water to flow back into the Thames, and will significantly reduce flood risk on Botley and Abingdon Roads and the main railway line. Oxfordshire County Council is a key delivery partner, and OFAS is funding the flood alleviation elements of the Kennington project.

Announced in June 2025, the £1 billion DfT Structures Fund supports local authorities to repair and renew critical infrastructure such as ageing bridges and viaducts, improving the resilience and safety of vital transport routes for communities and businesses.