Oxfordshire County Council has selected GRAHAM to build the Clifton Hampden Bypass, marking another step forward in the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) programme to improve travel through Didcot and nearby villages.

This award is the second of three construction contracts for the scheme, which will provide essential transport infrastructure to cut congestion across the area.

The programme is intended to deliver more reliable journey times, enhance walking and cycling routes, support new employment sites and housing around Didcot, and enable new and improved bus services. The bypass will divert A415 traffic around Clifton Hampden, rather than through the village.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: "The A415 is a busy road that experiences a large amount of through traffic and congestion on the A415 to A4074. It runs right through Clifton Hampden, including past the village primary school. This bypass will completely transform that, moving traffic onto a new road to the north of the village.

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"I'm very pleased that we've successfully appointed a contractor to provide this much needed bypass."

The scheme will deliver a new single carriageway with segregated shared walking and cycling facilities, linking the A415 at Culham Science Centre to the B4015 Oxford Road north of Clifton Hampden.

At the western end, a new roundabout will provide access to Culham Science Centre and Culham railway station.

Further junctions will be created to the east of the new roundabout and the existing A415, as well as at the north-eastern end of the route.

Andrew Henry, GRAHAM Contracts Director said: "GRAHAM's latest appointment by Oxfordshire County Council reflects our ongoing partnership with the local authority. We are pleased to have been appointed to deliver this important infrastructure scheme, which will play a key role in improving connectivity in and around Didcot.

"At GRAHAM, we bring a strong track record of delivering complex infrastructure projects, and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Oxfordshire County Council to successfully deliver this scheme and create lasting benefits for the region."

Pauline Schaffer, Director – Infrastructure Funding, Homes England, said: "The appointment of GRAHAM by Oxfordshire County Council is another major step forward in delivering vital transport improvements for Didcot and the surrounding areas.

"Homes England's investment through the Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping to bring forward the Didcot infrastructure scheme, unlocking much needed new homes and economic growth for the local area."

Enabling activities, including site clearance, archaeology investigations and utility diversions, are already in progress. Main construction is expected to begin in the spring and last approximately two years.