From July 22 the Banbury Road B4100 to Bicester will be partially closed from the roundabout to Lodge Close until the end of October so improvements on the Banbury Road roundabout can continue. 

Oxfordshire County Council are converting the existing roundabout into a signalised junction with traffic lights to improve traffic flow and encourage more walking and cycling.

The council are working in phases to remove the existing roundabout island and construct the improved junction, and the B4100 road closure will be part of phase three.

Confirmed design for construction from Oxfordshire County CouncilConfirmed design for construction from Oxfordshire County Council (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

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The road will be closed from the roundabout to Lodge Close, with narrow lanes put in place on the northern half of the road to manage traffic.

Traffic towards Bicester will be diverted using the A4095 ring road and pedestrians and cyclists will be diverted along the Banbury Road.

Buses will be diverted via Buckingham Road, with two temporary bus stops put in place for the 500 bus route.

Fringford road and Bridleway will be reopened.

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The Oxfordshire County Council website says that during the Banbury Road closure it will be working to create a new island on Banbury Road south, as well as installing a new central island adjacent to the Fringford Road and on the roundabout east and west approaches.

The council will also be completing the second half of the toucan crossing on the A4095, constructing new drainage and footways, and surfacing the Banbury Road south up to the roundabout approach splitter island.

Banbury Road is expected to reopen to all road users at the end of phase three.

Phase three is set to last until October 28, with phase four set to start on October 29 until the end of January. 

Phase five is set to start on February 3 and is expected to finish on February 18, 2025. 

The £10 million project has been met with controversy in the past from Bicester residents.

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Speaking on the project previously, Councillor Judy Roberts, cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy, said: "Bicester is expanding rapidly and the Banbury Road roundabout needs redeveloping to safely manage the levels of movement expected when new housing and jobs arrive in the town.

"It is important that this new junction is delivered before more housing is built.

"The junction will increase capacity, while better regulating traffic by using signals and a lower speed limit.

"As a council, we are committed to making it easier for people to walk and cycle more if they can, and these improvements will also provide better pavements and cycle paths and safer crossings."