Frideswide Square Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you doing this work? Frideswide Square is one of Oxford’s highest profile public areas and is a vital link between major road routes into the city. Tens of thousands of car, bus, cycle and pedestrians pass through each day and the area is also the destination for thousands of rail passengers.
The county council is tackling what has been seen as a perennial problem for travellers coming into the city – our work will see improved journey times, far better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and be part of a modern gateway for Oxford.
We are investing in a better system for traffic and creating some excellent public space that is in keeping with nearby facilities such as the business school and future developments such as the revamped train station. The finished Fridewide Square will reflect the regeneration taking place in and around Oxford and the county as a whole.
How much are you spending on this? £5.5million. This is a major investment into Oxford and just one of the pieces of work being done to ensure the city has the transport infrastructure to match its ambition to be a world class city.
What does the work involve? There are two stages to the implementation of the project. The first stage of works, recently completed, involved reallocating parking from Becket Street to Osney Lane and St Thomas Street. There were also minor adjustments to the road layout at the junctions of Becket Street/Botley Road, Becket Street Osney Lane and Osney Lane/Hollybush Row. This will facilitate the two-way operation of traffic on Becket Street.
In addition, as part of the first stage, the Worcester Street/George Street junction will be transformed to a traditional four-arm signal controlled junction, allowing traffic to travel north and south along Worcester Street at the junction. This will be achieved by removing the central pedestrian area.
The main phase will involve the creation of three roundabouts, which will replace the traffic signal controlled junctions within the square. This remodeling of the highway layout will improve traffic flows and will allow the creation of an enhanced public space including both hard and soft landscaping to create a welcoming gateway point on this entry to the City.
When will the work start? Work on the first preparatory phase began on 1 September 2014.
The second “main phase” on the main square is due to start from February 2015.
How long will the work last?
The first phase is scheduled for 15 weeks, and the second, up to 10 months.
Which roads will be affected? Phase one affected roads include - George Street, Worcester Street, Hythe Bridge Street, Hollybush Row, Becket Street, Oxpens Road and Osney Lane.
Phase two affected roads include - Hythe Bridge Street, Hollybush Row, Becket Street, Botley Road, Park End Street, rail station access and Rewley Road.
What hours will you be working? Monday to Saturday during the first phase including night time (19:00 hrs – 06:00hrs) for items of work such as carriageway resurfacing. The work patterns for the second phase are yet to be confirmed.
What are you doing to get the work done quickly? There will be some nightime working, particularly where traffic management is required to close key junctions which would cause major disruption if we did it at peak times. This may involve temporary road closures.
We have decided on a way which will get the most work done and mean that the engineers spend the maximum amount of time on site working.
What will the effect be on my journey? Are you expecting delays? Delays during the first phase of works on Becket Street, Osney Lane and Hollybush Row have been minor as we did much of the work off-peak and overnight.
Some delays are expected for the works on the Worcester Street/George Street/Hythe Bridge Street as temporary traffic signal controls will be utilised. These will be manually controlled between the hours of 07:30 and 19:30 to maintain traffic movements as far as is practicable.
The work on the main square during phase two will undoubtedly result in delays on the roads. We are keen to alert drivers to this early so that they have the opportunity to plan to take other routes, vary their journey times or choose other modes of transport.
Importantly, the road will be kept open during the work and access to the city centre, rail station and all other places you may wish to drive to in Oxford will be available.
Will there still be access from and to the Rail Station and Rewley Road? Yes, access to both the station and Rewley Road will be maintained at all times. At times, this may be one way, under temporary traffic signal control.
Are there any alternative routes to avoid the works? Yes, flexibility exists within the immediate network to allow for local road closures and local diversions. Traffic diversions will be required at various stages of the project. During the first stage, night time road closures will be in place for short periods of time, with localised diversions signed for people travelling through the area. With regards to day works, traffic is likely to be effected travelling through Worcester Street and Hythe Bridge Street, motorists, for example, could avoid this area by using the western bypass, and only make journeys that are essential through the junction.
Traffic management considerations for Phase 2 of the work has not yet been completed but once this has been developed and agreed more information will be provided.
You may also find that an alternative mode of transport would be more effective. You can find out more about other modes of transport at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/travelchoices
What will the buses do during the work? You will still be able to catch your bus and get to your destination.
We have been in regular contact with the bus companies. The bus companies will be informing passengers of changes to stops, routes and timetables as and when necessary.
Why are these works being done at the same time as WestGate, and The Plain Roundabout improvements? This scheme is one of a number of major highway improvement projects being delivered by Oxfordshire County Council over the next couple of years. The implementation of these projects is being coordinated in a way to minimise traffic disruption to the wider network, with information for the travelling public on all works provided through several medians.
The actual Frideswide Square project has been split into two stages to reduce disruption to traffic. The first stage will provide additional capacity to the network with the opening up of both Becket Street and Worcester Street both during the works and thereafter. This will give motorists more choice over the route they take and will ease local congestion in the area.
What do businesses need to do if they need to get deliveries? They can discuss their needs with the onsite site manager or nominated liaison person who will work with them to manage the day to day requirements, so that they can maintain a normal open for business. Local residents and business will be contacted before work commences in their immediate vicinity so that they can discuss these needs.
How can residents/ businesses stay informed of progress? The website for the project will be periodically updated and will allow for a subscription to an e-bulletin. This bulletin will be updated on a periodic basis. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/frideswide-square-and-oxford-station
How can residents/ businesses raise concerns or complain? They can contact the site team or dedicated liaison person, or via the county council’s web site www.oxfordshire.gov.uk or by phoning 0845 310 11 11.
How will cyclists and pedestrians be catered for during the work? It is not intended to restrict existing cycle or pedestrian movements through the sites while work is progressing. The team working on the site are aware that people will be walking and cycling nearby and will have procedures in place to work safely under these conditions.
What exactly will the improvements be? How will the new layout work? The final square will operate under a free flow arrangement, with all traffic signals being removed. The traffic signal controlled junctions will be replaced by three roundabouts. All traffic will travel along one central boulevard carriageway. Courtesy pedestrian crossings will replace the existing signal controlled crossings, and it will only be necessary to cross at one location to transverse the Square, and this facility will be provided at either end of the main carriageway and at all junctions into the square.
What is planned for the public space? How will it be better than it is now? It is anticipated that the space will be managed by the city and the county council so allow for it to be used as a multi-functional area. It has been designed to allow flexibility for future use including public events.
How will the new layout be better for all categories of road users? Journey times for the movement of people through this area will be decreased, with the removal of traffic signals. Vehicular traffic will travel at a constant slower speed than at present. There is an improvement to pedestrian desire lines across the square with increased permeability and the number of crossing places increased.
Will the work affect the trains at all? No work within the square will affect trains.