GRAHAM appointed to deliver Didcot to Culham river crossing

By Danny BallPublished On: August 3rd, 2026Categories: News, Top Stories

GRAHAM has been appointed by Oxfordshire County Council to deliver the final construction package of the Didcot and Surrounding Areas Major Infrastructure (HIF1) scheme, with work set to begin on a new river crossing designed to improve transport connectivity and unlock future housing and employment growth.

The Didcot to Culham River Crossing represents the third and final construction contract awarded as part of the wider infrastructure programme, which aims to reduce congestion, improve active travel and support planned development across the Didcot area.

GRAHAM will also deliver a new bridge over the Appleford railway sidings, a new bridge across the River Thames and segregated walking and cycling routes along the entire corridor.

Oxfordshire County Council said the investment will help improve journey reliability, reduce pressure on existing river crossings and support future employment sites, housing developments and enhanced public transport services.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The Didcot to Culham River crossing will significantly reduce congestion in the area, and provide a safe route for walkers and cyclists. In particular, it will help relieve the congestion at the existing historic river crossings through Sutton Courtenay/Culham villages, and also at Clifton Hampden.

“These existing local bridges are old and not suitable for modern levels of traffic movement. They are often congested and subject to flooding in the winter months.

This new crossing over the River Thames will help improve traffic flow, public transport journey times and reliability, and offer more resilience for public transport from flooding.

“The entire Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure scheme will give people more choice in how they travel, with improved conditions for active and sustainable kinds of travel which are better for everyone.”

Construction work to continue over the next two and a half years

GRAHAM said the project will involve significant civil engineering works to replace ageing infrastructure and improve transport resilience across the area.

Andrew Henry, Contracts Director at GRAHAM, said: “It is fantastic to have partnered with Oxfordshire County Council once again on another essential civil engineering project in the area.

“The Didcot to Culham River crossing is a complex project, which is ideally suited to our expertise. It will involve a complete overhaul of the current infrastructure, which is no longer fit for purpose, to deliver vital improvement works that support an enhanced quality of living for residents.”

Enabling works, including site clearance, archaeological investigations and utility diversions, began earlier this year, with early construction activities now underway. The main construction programme is expected to take approximately two and a half years to complete.

The wider HIF1 infrastructure programme is designed to improve transport capacity across the Didcot area while supporting the delivery of new housing, employment opportunities and more sustainable travel connections across south Oxfordshire.