ITEM CA8
CABINET 26 MAY 2009
COGGES LINK ROAD REVISED PROJECT APPRAISAL
Report by Head of Transport
Introduction
1. The town of Witney straddles the River Windrush but has only one vehicular crossing of the river, on Bridge Street. The lack of alternatives is a major factor in traffic congestion in the town in particular on Bridge Street, affecting the Conservation Area and Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). The A40 Witney bypass opened in 1977 and relieved the problem at the time by removing much of the town’s east-west through traffic. However, by the early 1990s traffic flows on Bridge Street exceeded pre-bypass levels and the overall demand on the town’s road network continued to increase. This has been exacerbated by recent new developments to the north-east of the town centre.
2. Cogges Link Road is a proposed town distributor road for Witney, linking Witan Way (via an existing roundabout) to the south of the town centre around the south of Cogges to Oxford Hill on the eastern outskirts of the town. The road has been planned for many years as the relief road for traffic from the new developments of Cogges Estate and Madley Park. It is included in Oxfordshire County Council’s Capital programme for construction in 2010 to 2012.
3. The project was recently awarded planning approval opening the way to publish Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders later this year. It is necessary now to revise the budget for this scheme ahead of publishing these Orders.
Financial and Staff Implications
4. Cogges Link Road is now estimated to cost £17,406,000 including fees.
Funding has been allocated from Capital Programme for the financial years 2009
to 2012 with support from Capital Expenditure (SCE) and developer funding.
Appendix 1 (download as .doc file) revised project appraisal is attached to this report. RECOMMENDATION
5. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the revised project appraisal for the Cogges Link Road
STEVE HOWELL Head of Transport Environment & Economy
Background papers: Nil
Contact Officer: Julian Hartless 01865 815097
May 2009
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