An announcement of government funding of more than £9 million towards major improvements to the A34 in Abingdon has been welcomed by Vale of White Horse District Council.
Council Leader Matthew Barber said the funding, announced today by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid following a bid by Oxfordshire County Council, is a huge step forward in securing a much-awaited scheme to create two new south-facing slip roads at the Lodge Hill Interchange.
The scheme will receive up to £9.45 million over four years and improvement work will help to relieve congestion and provide vital infrastructure to support Abingdon and surrounding areas in the future.
Cllr Barber said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive news of the funding. Our Council has spent a great deal of time campaigning for this interchange, which is vital to supporting the future growth of Abingdon, as set out in our Local Plan, and economic growth in the wider Science Vale area, where up to 20,000 new jobs and 20,000 new homes will be created by 2031.
“We are keen to see the scheme get under way as quickly as possible and will be doing everything in our power to ensure this happens.”
Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, says it will work with the Highways England, which manages the A34, to deliver the scheme as soon as possible.The district council will be seeking to secure further funding through legal agreements with developers of housing schemes.
See Oxfordshire County Council’s website for more information about the Lodge Hill Interchange.