Banbury Road Roundabout: Extra £1.3m approved by council

The funding was approved for the Banbury Road Roundabout project in Bicester in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 17. 

The council said the "increase in budget" is due to a combination of factors, including "unforeseen changes to the traffic management requirements" and "necessary post-design changes to construction".

In the meeting the cabinet member for finance, Dan Levy, said: "To be honest the sooner that can be done the better. I still have bad dreams about that roundabout I must admit."

The road works project is set to convert the Banbury Road roundabout into a signalised junction.

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The new junction plan is designed to safely increase vehicle capacity, using traffic signals, while also providing better pavements and cycle paths and safer crossings.

Councillor Dan Levy in the cabinet meeting (Image: Newsquest) The council said the cost pressure will be met by reallocating Growth Deal funding. 

The project, which has been met with controversy from residents and officials in the past, is currently in the third phase out of five. 

Phase three is expected to finish at the end of October, after which Banbury Road will reopen to all road users.

In response to the funding being approved, Conservative district, town and county councillor, Donna Ford said: "I think [residents] will understandably be furious at the increase."

"Currently large HGV vehicles are struggling to turn right with the current layout and I’ve requested this be urgently reviewed."

Ms Ford previously told the Oxford Mail she was "shocked and appalled" that an extra £1.3m had been requested.

"This project was designed against the consultation results from the public. It has increased and increased in cost," she said.

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The plans for the roundabout (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

However, Liberal Democrat town councillor Rachel Mallows welcomes the funding. 

"Like many residents, I’m happy to see that the Banbury Road roadworks are finally nearing completion," she said.

"This £1.3m investment will help to ensure that the new junction is future proof for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists."

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: "As the highways authority we have a responsibility to design and deliver construction projects in a safe and responsible manner.

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“There was a combination of factors that have impacted on the overall costs of the scheme.

"This includes changes to the drainage and additional utility diversions required.

"Working with local partners, we also decided to improve the planned traffic management by adding manually operated traffic lights during key phases of work, to keep traffic flowing.

“We continuously monitor the safety of the site and are working with our contractor to respond to any issues.

“The additional funding now allocated is being drawn from existing central government funding.”