A40 dual carriageway extension
The proposed scheme will increase general road capacity, improve journey time along the A40, and allow easy access to the new Eynsham park and ride.
About the project
The proposal is to upgrade the A40 east of Witney to the Eynsham park and ride site from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway - a distance of 3.4km or 2.1 miles. This will include improving dedicated routes for walking and cycling.
Junction improvements at Barnard’s Gate are also proposed, which will mean safer links to local access roads.
Your questions answered
View your questions about the A40 dual carriageway extension scheme for more details.
Take a look at a flyover of the scheme - video
Note: the flythrough of the scheme is between 0:12-1:41. This video has no audio.
Why we are investing here
Across the full A40 improvements programme, we’re investing in six major schemes, which will deliver a new park and ride, an extension of the dual carriageway around Witney, new bus lanes and junction improvements.
The programme will result in better transport connections, promote sustainable travel options, and reduce emissions. It will enable the creation of new jobs and support the requirements of local housing.
Public engagement on the A40 HIF2 Smart Corridor projects brings together the A40 dual carriageway extension, with two other complementary projects:
The dual carriageway extension will ease congestion along the A40 and benefit users of all types of transport. This will result in improved journey times between Witney and Eynsham and allow enhanced access for pedestrians and cyclists.
Where are we now?
In light of global inflationary pressures, the A40 improvements programme was extensively reviewed between November 2022 and June 2023. On July 17 2023, the county cabinet approved a new plan to build the programme in phases.
The initial phase includes dedicated bus lanes between Eynsham park and ride and Oxford, as well as the addition of controlled crossings and upgraded shared-use paths to make walking and cycling safer along the historically congested A40 between Witney and Oxford. Later phases of work will be planned and delivered as funding becomes available.
Specifically, the initial phase provides:
- Full bus priority eastbound along the A40 between the new Eynsham park and ride and Oxford North
- Maximised bus priority westbound along the A40 between Oxford North and the new park and ride.
- A high-quality active travel route along the A40 between Eynsham park and ride and North Oxford.
- A junction onto the A40 from the park and ride