Major Oxford transport improvement work to start on 13 July

Road users and residents of Botley Road are being advised that major transport improvements will begin on 13 July.

The first phase of work will start at Botley Road’s junction with the Seacourt Park and Ride and covers a length from its bridge over Seacourt Stream for a distance of approximately 250 metres eastwards (towards the city centre).

Works include an upgraded traffic signalised junction, amendments to bus stops, improvements to pedestrian and cyclist facilities and carriageway resurfacing. This section also includes works to the spine road into the park and ride site.

Better transport experience for all

Funding of £9.1m has been secured by Oxfordshire County Council to deliver a package of work to improve the travelling experience along the Botley Road and provide a route that prioritises sustainable transport modes such as public transport, cycling and walking.

The improvement work on the Botley Road corridor aims to:

• improve bus journey times by avoiding the key bottlenecks so that they have an advantage over general traffic
• provide a safer, more direct and more attractive route for cyclists and pedestrians 
• reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality
• encourage greater use of more sustainable modes of transport such as buses, cycling and walking and help to manage congestion on the route

It will also:

• unlock economic growth and job creation opportunities by benefiting development sites with improved access and additional capacity, including supporting further housing and growth in Oxford city centre, Botley and along the A420.
• provide an opportunity to introduce smart technology along the corridor and provide some of the groundwork for the upcoming Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) trials.

County Councillor Liam Walker, Cabinet member for Highway Delivery and Operation, said:

“Active travel is right at the top of the county council’s agenda and the work on Botley Road will contribute to our long-term vision of a county where more and more people are able to use sustainable modes of transport.

“The aim of the work is ultimately to make travelling in and out of Oxford along the Botley Road better, but in the short term the work may cause some inconvenience.

“We will keep the site under review to ensure that work continues to progress safely at all times.”

Working safely and to government guidelines

Work on the project had originally been expected to start earlier in the year, but a thorough review of working arrangements in relation to COVID-19 and utility diversions has meant a delay of a few weeks.

Safety for the site workers and general public is paramount and the county council is working closely with its contractors to assess the site and ensure that all working practices adhere to general statutory safety requirements and any current government PHE guidance.

The team will be working hard to minimise disruption. Any temporary traffic lights that are required will be manually controlled throughout weekdays 7am to 7pm and at weekends 10am to 2pm so that the team can respond quickly to traffic pressures as they happen. Work on the project is being carried out in phases with the whole project aiming for completion in Spring 2022.