New Lead Appointed for £332m Didcot–Culham River Crossing Scheme

A key leadership role has been identified for the major £332 million Didcot to Culham River Crossing project, with Oxfordshire County Council set to appoint its Director of Environment and Highways, Paul Fermer, as the scheme’s central decision-maker.

The appointment is subject to several conditions, including agreement on the target cost, delivery programme, contract terms, and confirmation that sufficient funding is in place.

Connecting key routes

The scheme will deliver a new strategic road link between the A4130 at Didcot and the A415 at Culham, featuring bridges over the River Thames and a private rail siding. It forms a core part of wider infrastructure plans to support growth in the area.

Part of a wider programme

The crossing sits within the broader HIF1 (Housing Infrastructure Fund) programme, which includes:

• Upgrades to the A4130, including dualling from the A34 Milton Interchange

• Construction of new bridges

• Delivery of the Clifton Hampden bypass

Contracts for the second phase of the programme were awarded in early 2025, with Graham Construction and Aecomleading on key elements of the design and delivery.

Graham is responsible for the Culham crossing and bypass design, while Aecom is leading work on the Didcot Science Bridge and A4130 improvements.

Funding and next steps

The project received cabinet approval in July 2024, securing a total programme budget of £332.5 million, alongside an additional £79.6 million contingency fund from Homes England.

While the estimated construction cost currently stands at around £151 million, final figures are still being negotiated as the project moves towards delivery.

Moving towards delivery

The appointment of a dedicated decision-maker marks an important step in progressing the scheme, helping to streamline governance and ensure key decisions can be made efficiently as the project advances.

Once complete, the crossing is expected to improve connectivity, ease congestion and support future housing and economic growth across the region.