Approval Granted for £90m Bridge Replacement Project

A £90 million proposal to replace a bridge, which is projected to cause two years of traffic disruptions for motorists, has received planning permission. Oxfordshire County Council first indicated in 2019 that Kennington Bridge required replacement. Approximately 50,000 people use it daily, as it carries the A423 over railway tracks. However, the authority stated that further work is now required on a “detailed design and construction methodology” before the bridge can be replaced. A council spokesperson added, “This will help us more accurately estimate construction cost and programme with the contractor, and we will then be able to publish an expected scheme timeline.” Previously, the authority had indicated that future construction work was anticipated to necessitate a contraflow system for approximately two years and four months. The existing bridge was constructed in 1965 and is located on the route of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, which the county council’s planning committee approved in July. Documents indicate that the planned bridge is expected to have a lifespan of 120 years.