Oxfordshire awards final HIF1 programme contract to GRAHAM

Oxfordshire County Council has appointed contractor GRAHAM to deliver the Didcot to Culham River Crossing — the third and final construction contract of the roughly £323M HIF1 infrastructure programme for Didcot and the surrounding area, after earlier awards to Volker Fitzpatrick and AECOM. The scheme comprises a 3.6km single carriageway between the Collett roundabout on the A4130 in Didcot and the A415 at Culham, with a new bridge over the River Thames and another over the Appleford railway sidings, plus segregated walking and cycling facilities throughout. Construction Enquirer reports that both bridge packages went to Kelly Formwork. The figure quoted covers the whole programme, not this individual contract. Announced (contract award) on 03.08.2026. According to Oxfordshire County Council's timetable, construction started in spring 2026 and is due to end in autumn 2028; the date 31.12.2028 is a placeholder for the completion year (Oxfordshire County Council, accessed 28.09.2026: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/roadworks/major-current-roadworks/didcot-and-surrounding-area-infrastructure-improvements/didcot-culham-crossing).