Oxford bridges in need of repair as calls made for funding

The government has opened a new fund for councils to fix neglected infrastructure around the UK.

Donnington Bridge is in need of around £4m worth of repair work having been closed to buses in 2024.

And a major project to replace the ageing Kennington rail bridge is being delayed due to a massive £71m funding shortfall.

Oxford Labour said some of the city’s bridges “are not in good shape” and welcomed the funding opportunity.

Kennington rail bridge’s north elevation (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

“We trust the county council will be applying to this fund and stepping up their surveying and repair work,” a party spokeswoman said.

Isis county councillor Brad Baines said: “We remain extremely concerned about the ongoing uncertainty over the future of Donnington Bridge.

“The county council has refused to commit to funding the reinforcement or replacement of the bridge or restoration of bus connections across it.”

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An inspection confirmed the bridge must be repaired or replaced before full‑sized buses can return.

Repairs could cost £4 million and take two years, while replacement might cost up to £30 million and take much longer.

The council said feasibility work on options is due by summer but expanding the service “would, unfortunately, be prohibitive.”

Siobhan Lancaster (Image: Esme Kenney)

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (Image: Yui Mok/PA)

Oxford resident and campaigner Siobhan Lancaster added: “Residents in south and east Oxford need certainty about the future of this vital infrastructure and this new fund could provide that.

“We continue to call on the county council to provide this, apply to this fund and get the job done.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s spokesman said: “We welcome any extra money being made available for repairing structures such as this fund.

“Oxfordshire has many historic bridges and other infrastructure that is in need of attention and we will look into the criteria to make sure the county gets its fair share of this money.”

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander, who was a recent victim to one of Oxfordshire’s potholes, said: “Crumbling bridges and worn-out flyovers have been patched up rather than properly fixed for far too long, leading to frustrating weight limits and lengthy diversions.

“Every closed bridge is a barrier to growth; a blocked route to work, a delayed delivery, a family unable to reach the services they depend on.

“Councils have known what needs fixing for years but simply haven’t had the resources to act.

“We’re changing that, making sure structures are repaired properly, so people can live in properly connected communities.”

Funding decisions will be announced in autumn 2026, with all successful schemes required to complete works by March 2030.