Oxford North A44 Upgrade

Site location

The site is in the northwest of Oxford at a key highways and public transport interchange between the A34 Peartree Interchange roundabout and the A40 Wolvercote roundabout. The area is approximately 26 hectares, on agricultural land with the A40 and A34 on the east side and railway line on the west. The A44 divides the site in two.

Scope of works

Complex traffic management is involved in ensuring that access can be maintained to the busy park and ride throughout the works. Amongst other considerations, this involves signalisation of the A44/Link Rd junction for all movements in and out of the site.

The scope includes carriageway and footpath widening, and the installation of 2m wide cycle lanes, with all associated soft landscaping. Nightworks to the main carriageways involve planing, laying wearing course, road markings and traffic signal loop detectors.

New bus stops are being installed, with some existing stops being upgraded with high-quality shelters and real-time information systems. Bus lanes are being introduced both north- and southbound, with bus stops and tiger crossings on junction bypass lanes. Additional toucan crossings at the signalised junctions will serve the Park and Ride.

Utilities

Extensive utility diversions consist of: HV/LV electricity and substation relocation; Vodafone ducts; BT chambers and cable ducts; Oxford Fibre chambers and fibres; a Thames Water mains diversion; and a Merton Council sewer rising main. An existing culvert is also to be extended.

Interfacing with contractors

A key challenge is the extensive interfaces with other contractors’ works, including: the County Council’s A40 works, interim Peartree scheme and permanent Peartree scheme; enabling contractor’s A44 interim scheme; A40/A44 link road; extensive works to the central part of the site and the canalside; and the canalside loop road and residential housebuilder’s works.

Careys has good relationships with the local authority and other stakeholder bodies, due to other key projects we have undertaken in the Oxford area. We are in talks about setting up a skills centre at Oxford and Abingdon College as part of the Oxford North local authority and LEP initiative to create opportunities for local people. Meanwhile, the Community Employment Plan gave us a target of three apprentices and 35% local employees for this current project.