What you need to know

• Frideswide Square has reached a significant milestone with construction of planters and new trees.
• Delays are expected as a result of increased term-time traffic

Increased traffic expected
 
Traffic on the roads across the UK will increase significantly when the new school term starts, and Oxfordshire is no exception. This increase, combined with reduced road capacity in places like Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts, will lead to delays at peak times.
 
Consider alternatives
The county council is urging people who travel through any of these areas, particularly those who drive, to plan their journeys and consider alternative routes, time of travel and modes of transport.
 
Although the traffic management in locations such as Wolvercote and Cutteslowe means that road capacity is reduced, leading to journeys that are far slower at peak times, more people using public transport would mean more space and more free movement for those who have no option but to drive.

Use online resources to plan your journey
There is a range of online help which makes journey planning easier for those unsure if they can make the switch.
 
www.traveline.info provides an easy A-to-B service which shows how to travel where you need to be by public transport

Google maps provides live snapshots of congestion and journey times in key locations so that you can judge whether the bus or train would be a better option than sitting in traffic.
 
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/travelchoices contains the latest information on all of our major improvement schemes that the county council is working on and includes links to other transport options such as walking, cycling and car sharing.

How we’re getting on with the work

Work on Frideswide Square reached a significant milestone on Friday 21 August!
 
After completing the construction of the planters outside the business school, ten new semi-mature trees have been planted. In September we will be starting the installation of the lamp columns outside the Said Business School and will complete the last section of planting in the area.
 
The paving along Hythe Bridge Street, Rewley Road and outside the Bamboo restaurant will be finished in the next few weeks which means this area will be opened up to the public
 

In phase 2, the area directly outside the Park End Street businesses, we are well underway with the excavation of the surface and have started the laying of the Yorkstone paving at either end of the square. Once the paving has been complete at the end closest to the station, we will be opening up the pedestrian crossing to make it easier for people to get across to both sides of the square. We have also progressed with the drainage in phase 2 and this will continue over the coming weeks.

For further details and information about this scheme, please visit the Oxford Station and Frideswide Square pages. 

For live travel information and our journey planner, visit Oxfordshire Travel Choices