Oxford to Cambridge Expressway route announced
Suzanne Lovell
The Government has announced the chosen route for the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway - the new road to join the two university cities.
Corridor B, (shown in purple in diagram) which will run alongside the East West Rail link, is the preferred choice in the announcement on Wednesday, September 12, by roads minister Jesse Norman.
He said the link, which could pass either east or west of Oxford, would outperform other options by providing better links to jobs, education, leisure and health services.
It is expected to take up to 40 minutes off the journey between the A34 south of Oxford and the M1 and lead to the development of up to a million new homes.
He said: “The Government is taking the big decisions on infrastructure, working to maximise growth and productivity across the UK.
“England’s economic heartland, as it has been called, already plays a crucial role in powering the UK’s growth, science and innovation, but there is no single route to connect Oxford and Cambridge.
“This expressway will enhance both transport connectivity and growth across the region for the benefit of the UK as a whole.”
The exchequer secretary to the Treasury, Robert Jenrick, said: “The Oxford to Cambridge arc is one of the greatest opportunities for economic growth in Europe.
“We want to realise that potential by investing in the new infrastructure the area needs and the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway is an important part of our plan.
“The Expressway will provide a link between two of the country’s intellectual powerhouses and open up vital jobs, skills and housing opportunities to transform the region’s economy.
“We are investing record amounts in the UK’s infrastructure, including funding the largest road-building programme since the 1970s.”
A public consultation, showing more detailed designs for the route, will be held next year.
Source: Thames Valley Property No 131 (tvproperty.co.uk)
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