COMMUTERS and Olympic Torch relay spectators are being warned the county’s transport system will be under strain on Monday.

Roads bosses last night urged those hoping to see the relay to plan their journey well in advance.

Police will enforce rolling road closures as the torch travels through county and some roads will be closed for about two hours.

Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to line the route through the county.

Rodney Rose, county council cabinet member for transport, said: “The passing of the Olympic Torch is a once in a generation event people will be keen to witness.

“I am certain that the people of Oxfordshire will be more than willing to make changes to their daily schedules and travel arrangements given the unique and momentous nature of the event.”

The flame will arrive in Bicester on Monday afternoon and travel to Oxford. On Tuesday it will move from the city and on to Abingdon, Wallingford and Henley.

On Monday, Oxford Road in Kidlington will be closed between Bicester Road and Sainsbury’s from 3pm-5pm.

Cowley Road in Oxford will be shut between Magdalen Road and The Plain from about 5.30pm to 7pm.

On Tuesday, St Mary’s Street and St Martin’s Street in Wallingford will be shut from about 8am to 10am.

An evening celebration of the flame’s arrival in South Park on Monday is expected to attract 20,000 people.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “Residents are encouraged to travel to the event on foot, bike or use public transport. We also advise people to plan their journeys in advance.”

Chris Harris, headteacher at Larkmead School in Abingdon, said pupils were being encouraged to go to see the convoy and would not be punished if they were late because of the event and traffic.

Oxford Bus Company spokesman Phil Ashworth said the firm had planned diversions.

Robert Williams, commercial manager at Stagecoach Oxfordshire, said the company would be updating customers on Twitter.

He said: “We have spent a lot of time with local councils and the people involved to come up with a plan that consistent and works for everybody and minimises the disruption.”

For bus information, visit oxfordbus.co.uk or stagecoachbus.com/oxfordshire A map of the torch route with estimated times of arrival right across the county is currently availabe at oxfordmail.co.uk/news/ london_2012/torch_relay

  • The Oxford Mail will have reporters and photographers covering every step of the Olympic Torch’s relay through the county next week, both online and in print.

Log on to oxfordmail.co.uk for stories, pictures, a map of the torch’s progress and live blog from our staff on the ground on Monday and Tuesday, follow us on twitter on @theoxfordmail and buy Tuesday and Wednesday’s editions for unrivalled coverage.

Wednesday’s Oxford Mail will also include a free supplement of this historic event.