At last! After 45,000 working hours and 400 tonnes of granite, Frideswide Square is finally finished

It has taken nearly 45,000 working hours, over 400 tonnes of granite and 3,735 square metres of York Stone to complete the construction of the new junction at the end of Botley Road, with shared space facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

The key feature of the new design to keep the traffic moving are the roundabouts at either end of the square.

The end of the scheme, which started in February, comes as a relief for traders in the area who lost business during the works.

Anny Benadel, of La Croissanterie deli, said she was relieved the revamp was finished as trade dropped by about 40 per cent during the roadworks.

She added: "It looks really nice - I love it.

"Let's hope we can bring more people in here."

Each day there are about 20,000 pedestrian movements during the morning and afternoon peaks in Frideswide Square and 2,500 cycle movements on Botley Rd.

When the transformation of Frideswide Square started the old traffic lights were replaced by three roundabouts.

County councillor David Nimmo Smith, cabinet member for environment and Economy, said: “The new road layout creates a welcoming gateway into the city with only two traffic lanes, instead of the six we had before the work started, and massively enhanced public space.

“The old system with the traffic lights led to a start-stop routine which wasn’t good for traffic flow and the general look of the area."

There are now more than 37,000 cars, vans and light goods vehicle movements and about 5,000 lorries and bus movements going through the new “free flow” arrangements in a normal day.

The open area may shortly be used by food and drink businesses on the square to offer outdoor dining to customers.

Park End Street has also been resurfaced and has an improved drainage system, repaired kerbs as well as repairs to water damage on Pacey’s Bridges.

Pedestrians now have large areas of space and can walk from one side to the other of the square at a number of crossing points, while cyclists can choose to take on or off-road routes.

All traffic now travels along one central boulevard carriageway with courtesy pedestrian crossings replacing the old signal controlled crossings.

The design of the square is based on “shared space” which largely removes the segregation of pedestrians and vehicles.

This is done by removing features such as multiple lanes of traffic, traffic lights, and introducing low kerbs and courtesy crossing points.

Although the square is now “open”, many of the features have been in use for some time and the county council is continuing to work with groups such as bus companies and disabled access groups to ensure the new system beds in and changes can be considered if needed.

The square will receive a final clean today, with the completion of work being marked with the switching on of the final lights on the Christmas tree and uplighters round the granite benches and planters.

Buses started using the new stops on the square on Sunday.

Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “I am delighted that this work has been completed on time – it is a major gateway into the city and looks fantastic.

“Frideswide Square handles thousands of vehicle journeys every day as well as being the gateway to the area for rail passengers. We will see more reliable journey times, far better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and be part of a modern approach for Oxford.

“We’ve now got a great public space that is in keeping with nearby facilities like as the business school and future developments such as the revamped train station. The finished article reflects the regeneration taking place in and around Oxford and the county as a whole.”

Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council, said: “Frideswide Square is a focal point for traffic movements around the city centre, and the City Council has worked closely with County Council colleagues to secure improvements that will help pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists.

“The new square is the first in a sequence of major improvement schemes that will transform the West End of Oxford over the next few years, including the Oxpens and Becket Street areas as well as the proposed new station and the ‘island site’ between Park End St and Hythe Bridge St.

The quality of the public realm in the new square sets a high standard for these future developments.”

The only major road scheme now taking place in Oxford is at Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts on the A40 in the north of the city.

Mat Davies, Director of Estates at the Saïd Business School, said: “The staff and students of Oxford Saïd are delighted that the works to transform Frideswide Square are complete."

Gwilym Hughes, Head of Endowment Office at Nuffield College, said: “The reformation of Frideswide Square has shown just how much progress has been made since the dark ages of traffic lights and municipal street furniture.

"We now have a gateway to Oxford which lives up to expectations and inspires us to continue with the regeneration of the West End of the city.”