Work starts this week to improve major Bicester junction
Oxfordshire County Council will start work on 7 February to convert the Banbury Road roundabout, in north Bicester, into a signalised junction.
The work will handle increased vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian movement in one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire.
Construction will take place on one arm of the junction at a time, with traffic moving around the area using diversions and single lanes. The work is expected to take about one year.
While workers are on site journeys may take longer and the council is encouraging residents and visitors to plan ahead.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Bicester is expanding rapidly and the Banbury Road roundabout needs redeveloping to safely manage the levels of movement expected when new housing and jobs arrive in the town.
“It is important that this new junction is delivered before more housing is built. The junction will increase capacity, while better regulating traffic by using signals and a lower speed limit.
“As a council, we are committed to making it easier for people to walk and cycle more if they can, and these improvements will also provide better pavements and cycle paths and safer crossings.”
The signalised junction will include:
• adding new traffic signals to each arm of the junction
• reducing the speed limit from 40 to 30 miles per hour
• maintaining access for drivers to turn right from Fringford Road.
• separate crossings and paths for pedestrians and cyclists at the western and southern arms of the junction
• buffer zones between the cycle track and the carriageway along three of the junction arms.
Stages of work
The first stage of work will involve Fringford Road being closed, from 7 February to 11 April. Vehicles will be diverted by the B4100 using three-way traffic lights and narrow lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists will be diverted by Skimmingdish Lane, then down Buckingham Road/ the A4421 and finally turning into the A4095.
When work is complete on Fringford Road in April, the existing roundabout island will be removed. Work will also take place on the B4100 northbound.
Banbury Road will be closed from July to October this year and traffic towards Bicester will be diverted by the ring road.
Work is planned to take place on the A4095 westbound from October 2024 through to January 2025.
Construction is scheduled to finish with road surfacing on the B4100 in January and electrical works in early February 2025.
Satellite navigation systems (SAT-NAV) will display updates on the road closures.
More information
The pedestrian diversion from 7 February to 11 April uses an existing route with pedestrian crossings.
The work is fully funded by central government, with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities providing £5.5 million and £5.2 million secured from the Growth Deal.
Oxfordshire County Council is working with Galliford Try to construct these improvements.
More information can also be found online at oxfordshire.gov.uk/banburyroadroundabout.
For more information about this release contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk
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