THERE are plans to remove bus lanes on a major route in and out of the city centre.

Oxfordshire County Council are hoping to improve walking, cycling and public transports links along the Woodstock Road corridor.

However, to do so, it wants to replace bus lanes with cycle paths.

This is everything we know so far:

What is the ‘Woodstock Road corridor’?

The Woodstock Road corridor (A4144) covers the area from Wolvercote Roundabout to Green Templeton College on St Giles.

What is being proposed?

The council wants to create continuous pedestrian and cycling routes entering this city.

It hopes to provide segregated cycle routes and wider footpaths wherever possible.

Oxford Mail:

However, to implement this plan the council wants to replace existing cycling routes, which are currently shared with buses and other motor traffic, to give pedestrians and cyclists ‘their own safe space’.

This would also mean removing bus lanes on the Woodstock Road.

Why is the council doing this?

The council wants to renovate the road, to enable people for live, work or travel along the Woodstock Road to make ‘more sustainable travel choices’.

It hoes that this well help reduce traffic, improve air quality and all in all provide safer travel.

The council has also said he changes will help support planned new housing in Oxford.

The council said more than 150,00 vehicles cross Oxford’s ring road each day, with the vast majority being private vehicles.

It adds that 75 per cent of local air pollution in Oxford currently comes from traffic – the council hopes changes to Woodstock Road will help tackle this.

When will this begin?

The plans are currently being reviewed and updated, following the public consultation on the initial proposals that was carried out in Autumn 2021.

This summer, further consultation will be carried out and the council aims to begin construction in Winter 2022/2023.

How much will it cost?

The total budget for this project is £12.5 million.

How are the council paying for this?

The council hopes have secured the £12.5 million from the central government’s growth Deal Funding.

Detailed scheme costing and estimates will be undertaken at each stage of design with actual quotations received before construction begins to ensure the works fit within the available budget.