A scheme which aims to prioritise cyclists and pedestrians on a major city road is set to begin.
An off-road cycle path and new pedestrian crossings are set to be installed on Woodstock Road.
A schedule of road closures will come into force from August 12 with the works expected to be completed in March 2025.
Pedestrian crossings will be installed on road junctions between Bevington Road and St Margaret's Road, and a new zebra crossing will be put in near Bevington Road.
A new off-road cycle path will be built between Frenchay Road and St. Margaret’s Road.
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As part of a trial following advice from bus operators, a section of the southbound bus lane between Wolvercote and Squitchey Lane will also be removed and replaced with a northbound lane on the other side.
A bus stop clearway will be introduced near Little Clarendon Street.
Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council's member for infrastructure and development strategy, approved the measures on July 18 as cabinet member for highways Andrew Gant could not attend.
She said: "Oxford looks forward to a greater demand for sustainable travel solutions to meet expected increases in population and jobs.
"These plans are one part towards answering that need on one of our city’s busiest roads.
“We have committed to making sure our highways are safer and work better for all our road users.
"We are implementing cycle way improvements and crossings that really prioritise the safety of people walking and wheeling.”
In a public consultation slightly more local householders supported the scheme than objected. However, some raised concerns about increased congestion.
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One respondent said: "Bus journeys will be slower. Car journeys will be slower."
Another called the proposals "economically ruinous".
A representative of the Oxford bus company said they had "unequivocal support" for the proposal.
There will be road closures at the following junctions with the Woodstock Road from August 12:
Field House Drive (cul-de-sac) Road Closure 12 August 2024 5 weeks
Woodstock Road Bus Lane changes 12 August 2024 9 weeks
Woodstock Road Service Road (between Observatory Road & St Bernards Road) No Parking No Loading No Unloading 12 August 2024 to 29 September 2025
St Margarets Road West Road Closure 19 August 2024 6 weeks
St Bernards Road Road Closure and One Way Suspension 19 August 2024 14 weeks
Observatory Road Road Closure and One Way Suspension 19 August 2024 14 weeks
South Parade Road Closure and One Way Suspension 16 September 2024 8 weeks
St Margarets Road East Road Closure 16 September 2024 4 weeks
Farndon Road Road Closure 14 October 2024 2 weeks
Little Clarendon Street Road Closure and One Way Suspension 28 October 2024 15 weeks
Plantation Road Road Closure and One Way Suspension 4 November 2024 5 weeks
Banbury Road Road Closure 25 November 2024 4 weeks
Leckford Road Road Closure and One Way Suspension 6 January 2025 5 weeks
Bevington Road Road Closure 6 January 2025 5 weeks
Exemptions are included for emergency services and for the works and for access to premises which are only accessible from the closed sections of road.
The alternative routes for traffic will be signed locally via parallel roads.
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