Upcoming roadworks on Hagbourne Hill

I have just phoned Highways Enquiry team about this subject. The Chilton Road out of Upton will not be affected but the junction at the top will be. I have asked them whether they can keep a strip open so that cyclists can still use the route. They will be getting back to me to confirm whether they can do this. I will let you know the latest.

Look forward to any updates re access for cyclists ASAP as this is my route. As Emily says, I don’t fancy the Harwell rat run!

I am a bit confused (it is probably me) I don’t understand how “The Chilton Road out of Upton will not be affected but the junction at the top will be” as the Highways people say “This work will affect the full length of Hagbourne Hill from the A417 at the north end to Townsend at the Chilton end”. ??

Presumably, you will still be able to cycle from Upton as far as the junction by the reservoir and then continue straight on past the farm (using the Icknield Way). It would get you to the campus but on less-than-ideal surfaces judging by previous posts on this forum.

The reply from OCC Highways:
The current road closures are for 9 weeks. During the first two Chilton Road will be open, so OK for cycling to work.
For the following 7 weeks, Chilton Road (and Hagbourne Hill Road) will be closed to all traffic including cyclists.
This is the first phase of upgrading Hagbourne Hill and there will be more works later in the year.
I have contacted OCC again to see if they could at least keep the route open for cyclist during am & pm rush hour, but they are sticking to their guns and not allowing any traffic during the 7 weeks.
The alternatives are the Winnaway (but likely to be more traffic than normal through Harwell village) or from Upton, using the Lynch Way to Chilton – not suitable for all bikes.

Hi,
Today all the roads through Hagbourne hill are closed If you fancy like me this morning to take the Upton hill track next to the pub George and Dragon in Upton, just be careful some stupid farmer in his green pickup truck (license plate 52 could not see the rest) was going really fast.
Usually there is no car on this track and today I saw 3! Some people to avoid the traffic at Rowstock are using this track…

Hi,

Thank you for the update. What is the status of the Upton hill track? I have used only with dry conditions in the past.

The track is very muddy with huge puddles… I think I will take the road tomorrow!
Cheers