OXFORD - LONDON ROAD IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

Progress report

The London Road, Headington improvement scheme commenced on the 26th April 2010 with a planned completion date of November 2010.

The footway works are being undertaken in numbered stages, each one completed before moving onto the next, to minimise disruption. Road resurfacing will take place towards the end of the project and will require some overnight working, road closures, temporary signals and traffic diversions however bus and coach access will be maintained at all times along London Road.

A detailed update of each stage, listed in date order, can be found below.

PHASE 1 – Osler Road to Stephen Road on the north side
Completed.
Works included widening the junction into Osler Road to allow better access out of the junction into London Road, site clearance, drainage works, ducting works for the new traffic signals, Thames Water hydrant relocation works, upgrading a bus stop, kerbing, block paving and the installation of street lighting and cycle racks.

PHASE 2- between Phase 1 and Stephen Road on the north side including Kennett Road Subway
Completed except for tree planting which cannot take place until November.
Due to some unforeseen issues there was a slow start to the subway works in this phase however, all the issues were successfully resolved and the subway was demolished and filled with foam concrete. Before the subway was filled the murals were professionally photographed and can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council website.

After the delayed completion of the subway associated works we were able to make very good progress on the rest of this phase despite finding a utility main that had not been identified by the utility board on any of the plans. This utility main had to be diverted before work could continue however this did not adversely affected progress and all excavation works, drainage, ducting for and installation of the new traffic signals, installation of cycle racks and street furniture, kerbing and block paving works have been completed.

PHASE 3A - Stephen Road to Old High Street
Completed except for tree planting which cannot take place until November.
Works included excavation, drainage, ducting for the new traffic signals, kerbing, block paving and the installation of new traffic signals and street furniture. Additional work was also undertaken for Natwest for their shopfront and this was also completed on schedule.

PHASE 4/11B/3B/12B/ - Windmill Road and Old High Street
Completed except for tree planting which cannot take place until November.
Only two diagonal phases were to be worked at one time which commenced with 11B and 3B.

PHASE 5/6/7/8 - North East London Road
Completed except for tree planting which cannot take place until November and final surfacing  which is currently on-going.
Works included layby alterations, block paving work in front of shops, extension of existing bustop, zebra crossing, installation of street furniture, drainage and ducting for traffic signals. Bus shelters will be installed by the end of October by Oxfordshire County Council. Street signage is now installed. Belisha beacons are being installed 25/26th October and we expect the crossing to be operational by the 27th October. Final surfacing work is underway and is being done at night to minimise disruption for local residents and businesses.

PHASE 9 – Wharton Road to Stile Road
Completed other than final surfacing works which are on-going.
Works included site clearance, excavation, kerbing, island works, drainage, ducting for the new bus gate and traffic signals, installation of cycle racks, street furniture and street lighting columns, up-grade of the traffic signals and bus gate works. Ashridge provided Pedestrian Marshalls for the primary school children throughout the duration of works. Final surfacing work is underway and is being done at night to minimise disruption for local residents and businesses.

PHASE 10 – Stile Road to Holyoake Road
Completed except for tree planting which cannot take place until November.
Works on this phase included site clearance, excavation, ducting works for the new zebra crossing, kerbing, block paving, installation of cycle racks and tree grills. 

PHASE 11 A- Holyoake Road to Windmill Road 
Completed.
Work on this phase which included excavation, drainage, installation of street furniture, formation of new bus stop, layby widening, kerbing and block paving works, could not commence until all the different utility companies had completed their works. The decision to involve all the utility companies at the planning stages proved highly successful with all the work completed at the same time.

PHASE 12 - Kennett Road to Windmill Road
Completed except for tree planting which cannot take place until November.
Works included the installation of new traffic signals at this major crossroads and the build of a retaining wall to stabilise the level change and make more pedestrian friendly the footway as well as kerbing, block paving and installation of street furniture. The new bus stop has been completed and bus shelters will be installed by the end of October by Oxfordshire County Council.

Pedestrian Marshalls were also provided for Phases 11 & 12 to ensure there was always a safe route for the duration of works.

PHASE 13 – New High Street to Kennett Road
Completed.
In response to feedback from the public and shopkeepers this phase was rescheduled to an earlier date. This enabled the works around the Windmill Road/High Street Junction to be completed over the school holidays when there was less traffic. This phase of works included site clearance, excavation, drainage, ducting and cycle racks, kerbing and block paving works.

Despite delays caused by the utility companies Ashridge will meet the completion date. This has been achieved by working elsewhere on the project when delays impacted planned work.

Resurfacing work is currently ongoing and is being carried out between 7pm and 6am to minimise disruption. We expect to complete this work by the 1st November.

If you have any questions regarding the progress of the scheme please do not hesitate to contact us on:

By phone 07547549007 or

By E-mail reception@ashridge.co.uk