Perfect Circle driving forward the A40 Access to Witney improvement scheme
AECOM, through Perfect Circle, is making significant progress on the A40 Access to Witney scheme in Oxfordshire. Following the completion of the detailed design, construction is now underway, marking a crucial milestone in the project.
Perfect Circle was commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council, and partner AECOM delivering project and cost management services for the scheme on the SCAPE Consultancy framework for the £25m scheme. When completed the project will provide new west-facing slip roads on the A40, enabling traffic from east and north-east Witney to access the A40 and reducing congestion in the town centre.
After receiving a positive decision from the Secretary of State in April 2024, approval for the Side Roads Order and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) was granted in September, allowing the project to move forward.
Extensive value engineering led by AECOM identified key cost-saving measures, particularly through adjustments in highway alignment on the slip roads. These optimisations reduced excavated material by significant amounts and shortened the construction timeline by approximately six weeks.
In addition, AECOM has collaborated with Scottish Southern Electric to optimise the diversion of their 33kV and 11kV networks. By refining the 11kV diversion, the need for 500m of civil works was eliminated, resulting in cost savings and mitigating risks associated with diverting under an existing intermediate pressure gas main.
“AECOM has worked closely with Oxfordshire County Council, local stakeholders, and utility companies to ensure that this vital project progresses efficiently. Not only will local residents benefit from improved access to the A40, but the County Council can be confident it is receiving the best value for its money for this vital project.”
Philippe Nirmalendran, AECOM’s Technical Director for Streets and Technology
The scheme is on track for completion by spring 2026.
