A comprehensive programme of resurfacing work to improve roads across Oxfordshire is underway. Oxfordshire County Council and its principal highways contractor, M Group, will visit 36 sites to carry out essential resurfacing. Work started at the end of June and is scheduled to run until 17 October.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Resurfacing plays a vital role in maintaining the county’s road network and this shows our ongoing commitment to investing in the highway network, reducing the number of defects and improving people’s journeys.
“This programme will extend the life of roads by preventing water from getting in, reducing the need for frequent repairs, enhancing skid resistance for safer travel, and smoothing out road surfaces for a more comfortable ride.”
Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director, said: “We are proud to be working with Oxfordshire County Council to deliver a comprehensive package of surfacing programmes to improve the county’s road network.
“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we carry out these essential works to enhance the quality and safety of Oxfordshire’s roads.”
The programme includes three main types of resurfacing:
- Safety schemes targeting accident-prone areas to improve skid resistance.
- Surface inlay work where the road surface has deteriorated but the foundations remain sound. This involves removing and replacing defective layers.
- Structural maintenance which is more intensive reconstruction for severely damaged roads.
In total, the work will cover over 111,000 square metres of road surface, using nearly 22,000 tonnes of material, with treatment depths ranging from 40mm to 250mm.
Disruption will be kept to a minimum, with work requiring road closures taking place at night wherever possible. However, disruption is likely at some sites where more intensive reconstruction for severely damaged roads is taking place.
The programme will affect some of the county’s A-roads, including:
- A40 Milton Common (14 July – 22 August)
- A40 Swinbrook Road/Burford Road (29 July – 18 August)
- B4495 Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford (04 August – 05 September)
- B4437 Charlbury (05 – 12 August)
- A361 Shipston under Wychwood, from Plum Lane to Dog Kennel Lane (07 – 13 August)
- A361 The Hill, Burford (08 – 20 August)
- B4044 Eynsham Road, Botley, Oxford (11 August – 15 September)
- A420 Longcot (14 August – 08 September)
- Tubney, A420 approach to A338 roundabout (21 – 23 August)
- A40 Witney eastbound bypass, Ducklington (25 – 27 August)
- Oxford Parkway park and ride surfacing (26 – 28 August)
- Wantage Road/Station Road, Wallingford (26 August – 09 October).
- A40 Witney bypass, B4022 underpass (28 – 29 August)
- A4155 Reading Road, Henley (15 – 19 September)
- Banbury Road, Oxford, from St Margaret’s Road to South Park Road (18 September – 09 October)
- A4155 Reading Road, Henley, from Station Road to Friday Street (08 – 15 October).
These dates include preliminary work, which will usually take place under temporary traffic lights, ahead of the main surfacing work, which will require road closures. All dates are subject to alteration due to the weather.
Motorists are asked to observe the diversion routes which will be in operation while the work takes place.
Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, are available on the council’s website. However, the programme will be subject to alterations depending on the weather.
The latest resurfacing work follows the council’s surface dressing road maintenance programme, most of which was completed between April and June.
