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Key Oxford junction to be made safer for cyclists and pedestrians

Campaigners welcome restoration of layout to how it was before 2014 remodelling

A key junction in Oxford is to be restored to the same layout it had five years ago to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Work began on Monday to transform the junction of Hythe Bridge Street, Worcester Street and George Street, close to the city’s bus station.

The junction lies on a main route for cyclists travelling from Oxford railway station to the city centre.

While motor traffic has to turn left from Hythe Bridge Road into Worcester Street to follow a one-way system, cyclists are permitted to go straight on into George Street.

With drivers also negotiating the junction from north to south along Worcester Street, the conflict that regularly puts people on bikes or on foot in danger.

The current layout of the junction dates from 2014, with changes made due to an anticipated problems related to traffic due to the major remodelling of nearby Frideswide Square.

That never materialised, and Susanna Pressel – a city and county councillor and former Lord Mayor of Oxford –  told the Oxford Mail that the new layout, costing £210,000, would benefit vulnerable road users.

“Pedestrians often have to wait a long time, so some cross before they should,” she explained. “It is dangerous for cyclists coming from Hythe Bridge Street and trying to go straight on or turning right: there have been many accidents involving bikes. Vehicular traffic sometimes has to wait too long as well.

“It is now to be put back to almost how it used to be five years ago. I only hope that the county council has learnt lessons from this waste of money.”

She added: “One reason why it is taking such a long time to make the junction safe is because this time they have consulted local pedestrian and cycle organisations and listened carefully to their advice – thank goodness.”

Dr Alison Hill, who chairs local cycling campaign group Cyclox also welcomed the increased safety the new layout would afford people on bikes.

“At the moment it’s unsafe for cyclists going from Hythe Bridge Street to George Street because the refuge is inadequate but there’s going to be a more substantial one created and more hi-tech traffic lights,” she said. “It should be an improvement for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s director for infrastructure delivery, Owen Jenkins, said: “The improvement works to the junction will include a change of layout by separating the junction into two streams of traffic, Worcester Street (north) and Hythe Bridge Street will operate together while George Street and Worcester Street (South) will work separately.

Hythe Bridge Street, Worcester Street and George Street redesign (source Oxfordshire County Council)

“Improvements will also be made to cater for the safe movements of both pedestrians and cyclists through and around the junction.”

He added: “The works will include minor carriageway widening, traffic islands (to separate the junction) and signals works including new ducting.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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matthewn5 | 4 years ago
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Motor traffic could be eliminated completely from this junction for the cost of a few bollards. My Flow air quality measuring device recorded the highest levels of pollution ever at this junction. Utterly mad in the 21st century and facing a climate emergency that motor cars can still drive through the centre of Oxford. Indeed, preliminary proposals for a city-wide traffic management proposed that Worcester street be closed to traffic. This scheme is a ridiculous waste of money on exactly the wrong priorities. "Vehicular traffic sometimes has to wait too long as well" - it shouldn't even be here.

While they're at it, they should move the coach station to the site next to Hythe Bridge Road and eliminate another source of road danger from George Street.

Oxford is in the dark ages compared to most cities in western Europe. Its streets are choked with cars, both moving and parked, despite the fact that the vast majority of people move through the centre on foot or by bike. Oxford city council has no idea what it's doing.

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matthewn5 replied to matthewn5 | 4 years ago
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