THE second phase of works at Oxford’s Frideswide Square will begin in just over a week, it was announced tonight.

Oxfordshire County Council said its work to pave footways, the main carriageways and central islands was due to be completed by Friday, July 17.

This means the local authority’s contractors will begin the next phase of the £5.8m scheme on Monday July 20, on the south side of the square.

Before that happens changes to traffic systems will be made on Sunday July 19, including the reopening of Hythe Bridge Street, the council said, as well as opening up the newly-created carriageways along the revamped square’s “boulevard” to drivers for the first time.

In its travel update, the authority added: “Traffic will then be using much of the vehicle lanes of the final layout of the new boulevard.

“The traffic lights at the junction of Worcester Street and George Street will revert to how they were prior to the closure.

“Frideswide Square and Botley Road are likely to remain busy but passable during peak traffic times.

“The work we are doing in Phase 2 will mirror the work outside the Said Business School such as kerbing, paving, planters and soft landscaping.”

Crossing points for pedestrians are to remain the same and a 4m-wide walking area will be kept outside businesses lining the south end of the square.

Temporary bus stops will also be unchanged.

The scheme to overall Frideswide Square began in February and is due to end in December.