Update on improvement works along Botley Road
Oxfordshire County Council has completed major improvements to Botley Road.
The improvements provide safer and faster routes for cycling and walking as well as bus users along a large continuous section of Botley Road.
While completing the works on Botley Road, contractors Milestone Infrastructure and subcontractors Drayton also revamped a previously abandoned play area in Botley School.
Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “The improvement works along Botley Road are only a start, but they contribute to our vision of making walking, cycling and using public transport easier and faster for residents and visitors in the city.
“This in turn will reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the city. Botley Road is a major route to travel in and out of Oxford, and these first steps are part of a transformation over coming years that will lead to a better transport experience along the road.
One of our key priorities as a council is to use our purchasing power for social good. I am delighted that our contractors could extend their time and resources to make positive changes in Botley School. I thank Milestone for their hardwork.”
Jenny Ayres, School Business Manager, Botley School said: “Milestone went above and beyond to improve our neglected annex play area, and their hard work means we should be able to open this up to our students again soon, which is fantastic. They have certainly achieved the aim of helping the local community.”
Charlie Green, Social Value and Communications Manager for Milestone Infrastructure, said: “Milestone is proud to have supported this local community initiative. Through our partnership with the county council we are committed to reaching the potential social value opportunities that can be attained through highways maintenance and this is one fantastic example of achieving that.”
Most of the funding for the Botley Road improvements was allocated from the Department for Transport’s National Productivity Investment Fund and Growth Deal. These funds have been used to complete work between Westminster Way junction and the Seacourt park and ride junction.
Design work for the remaining section of the road, which includes Seacourt park and ride to Binsey Lane and Elms parade shops to Eynsham Road, is expected to start in summer 2022, with construction to begin from early 2023. The new designs will support the wider transport plans announced by the county council aimed at increasing the speed of public transport, improving safety for cyclists and pedestrians and limiting carbon emissions caused by transport.
Work along the Seacourt park and ride junction was completed in March 2021 when the revised permanent traffic lights at the Seacourt Park and Ride junction were switched on. This was followed by work along Westminster Way junction completed in August 2021. Work on the A34 / A420 slip road junction that links the first two phases will be completed by March 2022.
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