Construction work on a roundabout project has been completed and a new bus lane and speed limits are now in place.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Kidlington Roundabout project aimed to enhance travel for those living in and around Cherwell and North Oxford.
Upgrades include improved footways and cycleways, new pedestrian crossings, and extended bus lanes.
Improvements around the roundabout include new signalised walking and cycling crossings on Bicester Road, Oxford Road south and Frieze Way, new 3.5-metre-wide shared walking and cycling paths and better street and footpath lighting.
There is now also a dedicated bus lane on Bicester Road linking with the bus lane on the eastern section of Kidlington roundabout, and reduced 30mph speed limits on the roundabout and its approaches.
The work also added a new shared-use cycle and pedestrian path from Frieze Way to Stratfield Brake sports ground, and a safe waiting area for south-bound cyclists to cross the service road along Oxford Road.
Councillor Judy Roberts, cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy, said: "I am delighted to see the completion of this project, which dramatically improves safety and connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians.
"The new signalised parallel crossings on Bicester Road, Oxford Road south and Frieze Way make a real difference to people on foot and cycling.
"With these and the new bus lanes, we are preparing for the significant growth expected in the Cherwell district, with some 22,000 homes planned by 2031 and just under 5,000 of those within a two-mile radius of this roundabout."
The project marks the conclusion of the county council's North Oxford corridor improvements programme.
This was developed in anticipation of housing growth across the Cherwell district and forms part of the council's Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.
The plan prioritises the health and wellbeing of residents and aims to invest in an inclusive, integrated and sustainable transport network.
It has been delivered with the county council’s construction partner Milestone as three separate projects.
These are improvements to the A44 between the Loop Farm roundabout and the Cassington Road roundabout, improvements to the A44 between the A34 Peartree interchange and the Loop Farm roundabout, and upgrades to the Kidlington roundabout.
Craig Buzzard, project manager at Milestone Infrastructure, said: "It's been great to be part of the project team for Milestone Infrastructure, working collaboratively with Oxfordshire County Council to execute a scheme of this importance to the local community.
"The project provides widened, segregated footways to improve access into Oxford city centre, which we hope will be well received by pedestrians and cyclists alike."
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