Work to enhance the Headington shopping area in Oxford.
Work started in April 2010 to enhance the Headington shopping area between Osler Road and Wharton Road, helping to ensure its future as a vibrant local centre. It will run until November 2010, with businesses open as usual.
The main features of the scheme include:
improved pavements
less clutter and new, high quality street furniture
two new crossings and pavement areas to replace the subway
an inbound bus gate to reduce delays to passengers
gently raised junctions and crossings
The footway works will take place in stages, each one being completed before moving on to the next, to minimise disruption. Road resurfacing will take place towards the end of the project and will require some overnight working, road closures, temporary signals and traffic diversions.
The two city council car parks in Headington will remain open, and except for some overnight diversions towards the end of the scheme, buses will continue to stop at or very near their usual stops.
The subway in Headington has now been filled in and a photographic record made of the brightly coloured murals which adorned its walls.
Latest news
Work is progressing well.
Phase 1 (near Osler Road on the north side) is open and complete except for some recessed covers, which are late arriving and are due to be installed during July. The bus stop will reopen as soon as possible, having been moved temporarily further east towards Windmill Road.
Phase 2 (between Phase 1 and Stephen Road on the north side) was delayed slightly when a utility main was found not to be in the expected place and had to be moved. However, it is expected to be complete by mid July. The subway has now been filled: before it was filled in, panoramic photographs of the murals were taken. The temporary pelican crossing near the subway has been well used. A tree is due to be planted in this section, and this will be done at the end of the scheme, during the planting season.
Phase 9 (Stile Rd to Wharton Rd on the south side) is open and complete except for the final surfacing, which was delayed due to electrical works over-running.
Phase 10 (Holyoake Rd to Stile Rd on the south side) is open and complete except for some recessed covers, which are late arriving and are due to be installed during July.The new tree will be planted at the end of the scheme, in the planting season.
Phase 11a (south side, east of Windmill Road) has been slightly delayed due to unexpected utilities works, and is due to be completed mid to late July.
We have made some changes to the programme, and a revised kerbing and construction phasing diagram can be downloaded via the link below. The changes will enable us to:
complete the works in the area of the former subway and install the new crossing (and remove the temporary one) earlier than originally scheduled, and
focus the work at the junction of Windmill Road on the school summer holiday period, when there is less traffic.
Ashridge Construction Ltd - our contractor for the scheme - is continuing to keep in touch with local residents and businesses, and helping them with deliveries when necessary.
An important part of the scheme is the allocation of space within the laybys for short term parking, loading, bus stops, disabled parking and taxis. To help reduce congestion, we are also proposing extending the loading restriction times on London Road. Consultation on the traffic regulation orders required to make the changes finished on 27 May.
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