Residents and businesses across Witney are set to benefit from a major improvement to the town's transport network, with the long-awaited new Shores Green slip roads due to open on Friday 17th July.
The new west and east-facing slip roads at the A40/B4022 Shores Green junction have been delivered by Oxfordshire County Council to improve access to and from Witney. The scheme will allow motorists to join the A40 westbound towards Burford and Cheltenham and leave the A40 eastbound directly into east Witney, providing a new route around the town and reducing the need for many journeys through the town centre.
The project has also included new walking and cycling facilities, pedestrian crossings and wider highway improvements, creating better connections for all road users.
Cllr Liam Walker welcomed the news and said "This is fantastic news for Witney and a hugely positive moment for the town. Local people have waited a long time to see these slip roads completed and I'm delighted that we finally have an opening date."
"This new connection will make it much easier for people to travel around Witney without having to drive through the town centre, helping to reduce congestion on Bridge Street and making journeys quicker and more reliable."
"I also hope the new route will help reduce the amount of traffic cutting through the village of Crawley, where residents have experienced increasing levels of through traffic over recent years. If more drivers can access the A40 directly from the east of Witney, it should remove the need for some of those unnecessary journeys through nearby villages."
"This investment is a significant improvement for our local transport network. It will benefit residents, businesses and visitors alike, while helping support Witney's continued growth. I'd like to thank everyone who has shown patience while the works have been carried out, and I look forward to seeing the benefits once the slip roads open."
The opening of the Shores Green junction marks a significant milestone in improving connectivity around Witney, offering drivers a more direct route to and from the westbound A40 while easing pressure on some of the town's busiest roads.
The slip roads are currently scheduled to open from Friday 17th July, subject to the completion of the remaining works and any final operational checks.
