Contract Decision Looms for ‘Critical’ Clifton Hampden Bypass in Oxfordshire

A contract for the long-planned Clifton Hampden Bypass in Oxfordshire is set to be agreed this week, marking a key milestone in the wider HIF1 road scheme.

The proposed single carriageway bypass would run between Culham Science Centre and the B4015 Oxford Road, just north of Clifton Hampden.

The scheme includes:

• A new relief road northwest of the village linking the A415 at Culham Science Centre to the B4015

• A new roundabout at the western end near Culham Science Centre and Culham Rail Station

• Additional access junctions along the route

The bypass forms part of the broader HIF1 road project, designed to improve connectivity between Didcot and surrounding villages in South Oxfordshire.

Councillor Judy Roberts, cabinet member for place, environment and climate action at Oxfordshire County Council, is due to approve the contract at a delegated decisions meeting on 26 February. A council report describes the bypass as a “critical component” of the overall scheme.

Contractor John Graham Construction Limited has estimated the cost of delivering the bypass at £38 million, although the council’s final target cost is yet to be confirmed.

The wider HIF1 scheme aims to reduce congestion in nearby villages, enhance walking and cycling links, and support the delivery of more than 12,000 new homes across the area.

If approved, the bypass would represent a significant step forward in one of Oxfordshire’s most closely watched infrastructure projects.