The County Council is holding a public exhibition of the proposal to build a new river crossing near Newbridge for the A415 at the Rose Revived pub, Newbridge between 26th and 28th November.  (Opening times: Thursday 26th 2:00pm to 9:00pm, Friday 27th 10:30am to 9:00pm, Saturday 28th 10:30am to 4:30pm).  The proposals can also be viewed online at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/newbridge . 

Oxfordshire County Council has for some time been looking at how to maintain the A415 crossing of the Thames at Newbridge.  There are concerns about the strength of the existing 750 year old 6 span gothic arch bridge.  An 18 tonne structural weight limit was introduced in 2006 as an interim measure to protect the bridge.  Studies carried out by the County Council indicate that the bridge is theoretically unsuitable to carry any level of motorised traffic in the long term.  The bridge is a scheduled ancient monument and County Council studies have concluded that it would therefore not be suitable to attempt to carry out any modifications to it to strengthen it.

The County Council has now developed a proposal to build a new crossing over the river Thames, 250 metres upstream from the current bridge.  The A415 would be diverted onto the new bridge and the current one closed to all motorised traffic.  The new bridge will be built with a double carriageway but would be operated (initially at least) as a single carriageway with traffic light controls as at present.  The weight limit on the road will be removed, opening the route to all weights of HGV.  10,000 vehicles currently cross Newbridge per day.  Building the new bridge will make the route more attractive to all forms of traffic and this will lead to a predicted increase in traffic of 600 vehicles per day (1 per minute at peak times).  If the process to get the required permissions in place to build the bridge goes smoothly building would start in 2015 at the earliest, with the new bridge being open to traffic around the middle of 2016.

Go along to the public exhibition to find out more, or look online at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/newbridge . 

It is very important that people who live along the A415 who will be affected by this proposal submit their views to the County Council, positive or negative.  Comments can be made online at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/newbridge .  Forms for submitting written views will be available at the exhibition or can also be obtained by contacting the Clerk on the details given below.