Witney A40 junction open as long-running scheme complete

Oxfordshire County Council has officially reopened the A40 Shores Green junction with the B4022 today, Friday, July 17.

It comes as part of a long-awaited scheme to improve access between Witney and the major trunk road while easing congestion in the town centre.

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A re-opening event to celebrate the completion of the £26.8million scheme was attended by Witney MP Charlie Maynard, the county council’s highways cabinet member Liz Leffman, and representatives from local authorities and the project team.

Speaking on site, Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways construction and repair, said: “This project has been a long time coming, and residents have advocated for it for years.

“We are delighted to have been able to deliver this scheme on time and in budget and seeing it in use this morning has been a joy.

Cars trying out the newly-opened A40 slip roads (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

“This is an important project, and the improvements here will provide Witney with better connections to and from the A40, taking traffic out of the town centre, supporting active travel, and benefitting communities, businesses and visitors for many years to come.”

The project provides a new eastbound off-slip and westbound on-slip to the A40, and has improved pathways, crossings, drainage and signage on the road.

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Witney MP Charlie Maynard said: “I’m delighted that the Shores Green junction is now open.

“After decades of waiting, the collaboration between a number of councils resulted in getting the necessary funding and driving the project to completion.

“Well done to everyone involved.”

Drone shots of the Witney A40 scheme, taken in May 2026 (Image: Ed Nix)

Councillor Ruth Smith, leader of Witney Town Council, added: “This junction means a great deal to Witney residents.

“I first visited Witney on a 100 bus in the late 90s and was baffled by the junction.

“It’s an anomaly that’s needed fixing for decades.

“Thank you to all the councillors and officers who kept the call for it and the project alive and brought us to this point.

“I look forward to data on the impact it makes on traffic flow and air quality.

“I hope we all find it less frustrating to visit the other side of town and to venture West more readily.”

Enabling works for the project began in February 2025, with construction starting later that spring, with the project delivered by M Group on behalf of the county council.

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Mark Smith, senior project manager at M Group, said: “M Group is proud to have successfully delivered the Access to Witney scheme.

“This project demonstrates the value of a strong collaborative relationship between M Group and Oxfordshire County Council.”

Funding came from Homes England via the Housing and Growth Deal fund, as well as Section 106 developer contributions and traffic congestion improvement funds.