Residents in and around Cherwell and north Oxford can now enjoy faster bus journeys and safer cycling and walking as Oxfordshire County Council’s improvements to the A44 between the Pear Tree interchange and Cassington Road roundabout are complete.
The project has provided pedestrian crossings, a continuous, widened cycle and footpath, and a southbound bus lane on the A44 between the two roundabouts, a total distance of approximately two kilometres.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “It’s great to see the new crossings and cycle and pedestrian paths, which make walking, cycling and wheeling much safer and more comfortable on this major route. With the new bus lane, these works are part of our commitment to prioritise the health and wellbeing of residents and invest in an inclusive, integrated and sustainable transport network.”
The project is part of the county council’s north Oxford corridor improvements programme, which provides transport infrastructure to support the expected housing growth across Cherwell.
Improvements along the A44 and the two roundabouts include:
- A new parallel crossing on Cassington Road at the junction with the A44.
- A new signalised toucan crossing on the A44 to the north of Cassington Road.
- A new continuous, widened pedestrian and cycle path on the western side of the A44.
- A new dedicated southbound bus lane.
- New bus stops near Couling Close.
- A new footpath on the eastern side of the A44.
- New and improved informal crossing facilities.
- Improved street and footpath lighting.
- Maintenance and strengthening to rail bridge slab structure.
- New signalised crossings on the Pear Tree interchange.
- Additional traffic lanes on Pear Tree interchange to improve bus journey times.
- Tie-in with adjacent north Oxford works.
The project has also provided a new accessible footpath with railings down to the Oxford Canal towpath and involved the planting of over 200 standard trees, 635m2 of shrub planting, 1700m2 woodland mix seeding, 850m2 wildflower grassland and more than 2,000m2 of open grassland seeding along the route.
Improvements to the A44 between the Pear Tree interchange and Cassington Road roundabout have been delivered with the county council’s construction partner Milestone Infrastructure Ltd.
The project cost £23m (£5m for design, surveys and legal costs, and £18m for construction.)
The north Oxford corridor improvements programme has been funded through the government’s Growth Deal funding and Section 106 contributions from developers.
