New Express Way could be bad for Thame

THE proposal for an Oxford to Cambridge Express Way, could be ‘a nightmare for Thame’ an Oxfordshire County Councillor has warned.

Image courtesy of Traffic Technology Today

Reporting to a recent meeting of Thame Town Council, Cllr Nick Carter said that the route currently being mapped out ‘is at a sensitive stage’ and that he was ‘increasingly concerned’ about its significance for the Thame area.

If the route chosen goes to the North and North-east of Thame, he warned: “The movements of construction vehicles could be a nightmare for Thame.”

Around £3.5 million is to be spent upgrading roads including the A34 and building new ones, as well as extending the east-west rail line to form the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway. The Expressway would be a motorway-standard road between Oxford and Cambridge, via Bedford and Milton Keynes. There are three route options currently being considered (see below) and recently a company was awarded a £15m contract to examine these options.

The aim is to improve east-west connectivity between the two cities forming a ‘brain belt’ to boost the economy.

Substantial job and housing growth to support the continued economic development of the region is also being planned by local authorities along the route.

Other local roads are also set to receive more investment after Oxfordshire County Council was given a share from a national roads fund.

The government’s Oxford to Cambridge expressway strategic study: stage 3 report can be read in full HERE