Government pauses 'Oxford-Cambridge' Expressway, that would link Aylesbury to Oxford and Cambridge

IT has been under-fire from environmental campaigners, who said the road would cause untold damage to our local ecosystems in a dual blow with HS2.

The Department for Transport and Highways England said they will "undertake further work on other potential road projects" between the two university cities instead.

They announced they would now move focus on reducing congestion in the areas between the cities.

In a document published yesterday, the Government said:

"The Government has investigated the potential for a new high-quality link road between the M1 and M40 which could support this growth and examined the costs and benefits of a range of options, taking account of the views of local authorities and residents in the Arc.

"We are now pausing further development of the scheme while we undertake further work on other potential road projects that could support the Government’s ambition for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, and benefit people who live and work there, including exploring opportunities to alleviate congestion around the Arc’s major economic centres such as Milton Keynes."

The Expressway has been in the governments plans since 2017.

The expressway was part of a two fold project, with the East-West Rail project also in the pipeline to follow a similar route linking Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Oxford and Cambridge.

The National Infrastructure Commission said the two should be built 'as quick as possible to unlock land for new homes' across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

The rail project has also been under fire from environmental campaigners since it was suggested.