A new bridge to ease traffic problems in Abingdon town centre is at least 17 years from completion and an improved A34 interchange will not come about for 12 years.

But both the Vale of White Horse District and Abingdon Town Councils are joining forces to pressure Oxfordshire County Council and the Government to start preliminary design work.

Councillors of all parties on district and town councils are unanimous in their call for improvements as part of the long-term aims of the town's integrated transport system, Abits.

Roz Smith, a councillor on the Vale executive, said: "A second bridge for Abingdon and a full 'diamond' interchange on the A34 at Lodge Hill are an integral and necessary part of the Abits plan.

"We need to press the county council for its support for these long-term aims. We need to know what preliminary work on designing a route for a southern river crossing has been man- aged. The level of traffic in the town is increasing. Only by making vital decisions now can the resources be put in place, the appropriate plans made, local residents consulted and the right solutions put in place for Abingdon."

Conservative leader Melinda Tilley said: "We give wholehearted support to a new Abingdon bridge and improved Lodge Hill interchange.

"It is vital that a new river crossing is built to relieve congestion in central Abingdon irrespective of the plans for the town centre."

Richard Dudding, the county's director for the environment and economy, said the council had lobbied the Government Office for the South East for the schemes to be considered within the strategic study of the A34.

He added: "The A34 issue is, to a large degree, out of our hands.

"The Highways Agency is on record as saying that nothing significant will happen before 2016 on the A34.

"As far as a new river crossing is concerned, this is part of the longer term plans within the Abingdon Transport Scheme but this was put on hold to await the conclusions of the county's Transport Networks Review.

"Pressures for new roads have to be prioritised and a new bridge for Abingdon is not programmed to be built until after 2021."

Further work to consider options for a new river crossing will be timetabled as part of any further study work for Abits, which will concentrate on medium to long term plans.

The new road would cross the River Thames from the A415 south of the town to link up with the new £5m Marcham bypass.