New crossing planned for Witney

Work is to begin shortly on a new pedestrian crossing to help people safely over a busy road in Witney.

Contractors working for Oxfordshire County Council will begin constructing a new zebra crossing on bridge Street on 23 January.

It is expected that the job will take three weeks, depending on the weather, and will also include some road resurfacing.

The project involves widening and elongating the central pedestrian refuge, installing dropped kerbs, and tactile paving. There will also be four Belisha Beacons, one of which will be on a replacement lamp column

County Councillor David Nimmo Smith, Cabinet member for transport, said: “This will be good news for pedestrians and drivers as the finished crossing will mean pedestrian and vehicle movements will be formally managed in what is a busy location.

“I ask people to bear with us while the work is done as the short term disruption will be worth it for the long term benefits.”

The resurfacing will require two or three night time closures, depending on progress, and temporary signs will be in place throughout the work to ensure traffic can flow safely and as smoothly as possible.

The resurfacing work is due to begin during the week beginning 6 February. The overall scheme is estimated to cost in the region of £106,000 which has come from developers through Section 106 commitments.