Smoother journeys on M40 in Oxfordshire once resurfacing is completed this year
Smoother journeys for drivers on the M40 as preperation for resurfacing work gets underway.
Drivers on the M40 between junction 6 (near Adwell) and junction 8 (A40 Oxford spur) will be able to enjoy smoother journeys once Highways England completes work over the next few months to renew the surface of the road.
Preparation work will start on Monday 15 August, while we install speed cameras and prepare for the work to start. The main work will start on Thursday 8 September, the work will involve resurfacing the carriageway across all three lanes in both directions, and is expected to finish by Christmas. The majority of the work will be carried out using slip road and lane closures overnight from 10pm to 6am.
There will be a full closure of the M40 northbound overnight to install the lane closures, which will be in place from 10pm until 6am on Thursday 8 September.
There will also be a temporary 50mph speed limit in place 24/7 throughout the work to allow drivers to travel along the M40 safely, for our road workers and to allow the surfacing material to set.
Highways England project manager Michael Freeman said:
This major resurfacing work will improve people’s journeys along the M40 by providing them with a better driving experience and it means we won’t need to return to this section of the road for major repairs for a long time.
Not only will we be resurfacing the road, but we’ll be using low noise surfacing to minimise the impact of the noise nearby.
We have planned our work carefully to minimise disruptions to road users, by carrying out the majority of the work using lane closures and overnight when traffic flows are low.
We expect all resurfacing work to be complete by Christmas, once finished we plan to install traffic sensors in the road surface to help monitor traffic flows. This cannot be done whilst we are laying the new surface and will require additional overnight lane closures for approximately four weeks.
While the work is being carried out, there will be a temporary 50mph speed limit and some full road closures with fully signed diversion routes.
Drivers travelling northbound will be diverted as below:
M40 junction 8 northbound Oxford Spur (A40) will continue to travel northbound along the M40 and leave at junction 8A exit slip, turn left along the A418 and follow A418 until it regions the A40 northbound.
M40 junction 6 northbound will exit the M40 at junction 6 northbound and turn right onto A4009 until the A40 London road. Follow A40 London road to the A418, turn left onto A418 and continue along to junction 8a and re-join M40 northbound.
Drivers travelling southbound will be diverted as below:
M40 junction 8 southbound Oxford Spur (A40) will leave A40 at the A418 southbound exit slip and travel east along the A418, travel to the M40 junction 8A and turn right at the second roundabout to join the M40 southbound.
M40 junction 8a southbound will exit M40 at junction 8a southbound onto A418 towards Thame, turn right on the A40 London road and follow until the A4009. Then turn left onto the A4009 and right onto junction 6 southbound entry slip. The work is dependent on suitable weather conditions and dates may be subject to change.
For the latest information about closures and diversions, please refer to the East of England weekly roadworks bulletin issued every Friday, which can be viewed on our website or visit the scheme website. where a work schedule will be kept up to date.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.