£3.2 Million Woodstock Road Improvements Completed

Cyclists, pedestrians and drivers along one of Oxford’s busiest routes are set to benefit from a major upgrade to Woodstock Road, as Oxfordshire County Council completes a £3.2 million infrastructure project aimed at boosting safety and sustainable transport.

The project announced last July, which stretches from Wolvercote Roundabout to St Giles, has introduced a range of improvements designed to enhance the public realm and make active travel. This makes walking, cycling, and wheeling, safer and more accessible.

A Boost for Active Travel

Funded through the UK Government’s Housing and Growth Deal, the works have been delivered by the council’s principal highways contractor, M Group, and have already been shortlisted for two national awards: Active Travel Scheme of the Year and Small Project of the Year at the 2025 Highways Awards.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said:

“Not only is it a visual improvement, crucially it’s safer for pedestrians and cyclists. This much better accessibility is part of our plan to give people genuine options to use sustainable ways of travelling on one of the major roads in the city.”

What’s Changed?

The completed scheme includes:

• Wider pavements and improved crossings at side roads between Bevington Road and St Margaret’s Road, including “at-level” crossings for easier mobility access.
• A new parallel pedestrian and cycle crossing south of Bevington Road.
• An extended off-road cycle path along the western side of Woodstock Road, improving connectivity between Frenchay Road and St Margaret’s Road.
• A full-time bus stop clearway north of St Giles to aid public transport efficiency.
• Relocation of a marked parking bay outside Belsyre Court to improve pedestrian visibility.

Craig Buzzard, Senior Project Manager at M Group, added:

“It’s been a privilege to work collaboratively with Oxfordshire County Council to deliver a scheme of real significance to the local community. The project introduces safer and wider footway crossings to enhance access into Oxford city centre; improvements we hope will be warmly welcomed by both pedestrians and cyclists.

“The scheme also includes 215m² of landscaped areas and achieves measurable carbon savings through careful material selection, which reflects M Group’s dedication to delivering infrastructure that is not only functional but also environmentally responsible and community focused.”

Experimental Bus Lane Reversal

As part of the wider corridor improvements, an experimental bus lane reversal between Wolvercote and Squitchey Lane has been implemented and will remain under review until a final decision is made in 2026.

The reversal is currently operating under a six-month Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and forms part of the council’s trial efforts to improve journey times for public transport and reduce congestion.