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.