Your questions about the A40 dual carriageway extension answered

A40 dual carriageway extension (dualling) scheme

The A40 between Witney and Oxford is currently a single carriageway. A total of 3.2km between Witney (Hill Farm junction) and Eynsham (the junction of the proposed Park and Ride site) will be converted to a two-lane dual carriageway.

Why we are making this section a dual carriageway

The A40 currently suffers from significant congestion and operates beyond its capacity leading to delays and poor journey time reliability. Expanding capacity by dualling the heavily trafficked section between Witney and Eynsham will help alleviate congestion. The scheme will enable the delivery of additional housing infrastructure in west Oxfordshire by improving local transport infrastructure.

Why we are only making this section a dual carriageway

The A40 dualling scheme is an integral part of a package of improvements on the A40. The improvements are designed to ease congestion on the road and promote a shift to more sustainable modes of transport between Witney and Oxford. These measures include the:

• construction of an 850 space park and ride facility at Eynsham
• introduction of a 6.5 km bus priority between Eynsham and the approach to the Wolvercote junction just past the Duke’s Cut bridges.

The dualling between Witney and Eynsham is to facilitate access to the park and ride site. 

Direct access to the A40

To maintain road safety and eliminate potential hazards, direct access to the proposed dual carriageway from adjoining properties will be restricted. However, we are developing alternative access arrangements for adjoining properties as part of the scheme. We are discussing these arrangements with impacted parties.

The Barnard Gate junction

Barnard Gate junction is within the section to be dualled. It is currently a staggered intersection. The new proposals will replace the intersection with a new roundabout. 

Where are we now?

In light of global inflationary pressures, the A40 improvements programme was extensively reviewed between November 2022 and June 2023. On 17 July 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