Safer Roads Oxford: Banbury Road and Iffley Road
Work begins to make two busy roads in Oxford safer.
About the scheme
Safer Roads is a project that aims to improve road safety on some of our busiest roads. Most of the accidents on Banbury Road and Iffley Road are on or near junctions with side roads, so it is imperative that we make these junctions safer to prevent future accidents. To do this, we are constructing side road entry treatments on twelve junctions across the project area. The key elements of these treatments are:
- Continuous crossings for people using the footway
- Ramps for motor vehicles navigating the continuous crossings
- Narrow junctions and reduced area for vehicle turns to slow vehicles turning in or out
- Rain gardens with planting to prevent surface water flooding
- Wider cycle lanes at the mouth of each junction on Banbury Road.
These improvements aim to increase awareness of pedestrian right-of-way when crossing side roads, slow vehicle speeds, and provide more safety for cyclists, riders, and those wheeling.
The final stage of the project will be to place solar studs along the advisory cycle lanes on the Banbury Road and Iffley Road.
Diversion plans
Iffley Turn
Iffley Turn is closed at the junction of Banbury Road. A diversion is in place via Iffley Turn (north) and Henley Avenue. This closure is expected to remain in effect until 3 November.
Prominent signage includes:
“Road Closed” signs at both ends of the closure on Iffley Turn. “Diversion” signs guiding traffic through Iffley Turn (north). Temporary pedestrian access maintained along the footpath
Radcliffe Road
Radcliffe Road is closed at the junction of Iffley Road. A diversion is in place via Freelands Road and Iffley Road. This closure is expected to remain in effect until 3 November.
Prominent signage includes:
“Road Closed” signs at both ends of the closure on Radcliffe Road. “Diversion” signs guiding traffic through Freelands Road. Temporary pedestrian access maintained along the footpath
Courtland Road
Courtland Road is closed at the junction of Iffley Road. A diversion is in place via Ashhurst Way, Spencer Crescent and Rowley Place. This closure is expected to remain in effect until 3 November.
Prominent signage includes:
“Road Closed” signs at both ends of the closure on Courtland Road. “Diversion” signs guiding traffic through Ashhurst Way and Courtland Road
Indicative timeline of works
Residents and businesses affected by the works are being informed by letters a week in advance of the work starting.
Banbury Road
- Bevington Road – 26 August to 12 September 2025
- St Margaret's Road – 26 August to 12 September 2025
- Linton Road – 26 August to 11 September 2025
- Belbroughton Road – 11 September to 29 September 2025
- Norham Road – 12 September to 1 October 2025
- Rawlinson Road – 12 September to 2 October 2025
Iffley Road
- Radcliffe Road – 6 October to 3 November 2025
- Iffley Turn – 6 October to 3 November 2025
- Courtland Road (North) – 6 October to 3 November 2025
- Westbury Crescent – 23 October to 12 November 2025
- Cornwallis Road – 22 October to 14 November 2025
- Courtland Road (South) – 23 October to 19 November 2025
Project development
The second statutory consultation on the proposals to construct new side road entry treatments at various junctions along the Banbury Road and Iffley Road, Oxford, ran from 27 February to 28 March 2025.. The consultation responses were collated and considered at the Cabinet Member Decision Meeting on Tuesday 24 June, where the Safer Roads Fund Project was approved for progression to construction.
Why are we investing here?
‘Safer Roads’ is a part of our vision zero commitment to work toward a goal of zero serious or fatal road traffic accidents on the county and city roads by 2050.
Most of the accidents we have been looking into on Banbury Road and on Iffley Road were on or near junctions with side roads, so it is imperative that we make these junctions safer to prevent future accidents
There are three key objectives for this project:
- Provide better pedestrian and cycling facilities.
- Reduce the risk and number of collisions and accidents.
- Reduce the number of fatal/serious injuries/casualties involving pedestrians and cyclists.
The project supports our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP).
By providing better pedestrian and cycling facilities, the project is considered to address three of our nine strategic priorities directly:
- Put actions to address the climate emergency at the heart of our work.
- Invest in an inclusive, integrated, and sustainable transport network.
- Prioritise the health and well-being of residents.
How is it being funded?
We made a bid for funding to make key safety improvements on Banbury Road and Iffley Road in 2023 and were awarded £1.675m from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund to deliver the safety works
The funding is provided with the condition that it is used only for new safety improvements on these specific roads. that will protect people travelling on these roads, especially vulnerable road users. It can not be used to fund other roadworks, such as pothole repairs.
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Public consultation | Feb/March 2025 |
| Detailed Design | March – June 2025 |
| Construction start | Banbury Road - late August 2025 Iffley Road - mid October 2025 |
| Construction finish | Banbury Road - mid October 2025 Iffley Road - early December 2025 |
| Defects period | 12 months post completion |
Contact us:
If you would like to know about the project, or have any queries during the construction period, you can contact us by emailing the project team:
Or by writing to:
Safer Roads Fund Project
Oxfordshire County Council
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
OX1 1ND