The Banbury Road junction in Bicester is now open after significant roadworks, improving traffic flow after delays.
After delays, it fully reopened on February 28. There were five phases and traffic management measures. The council said the junction opened after light testing. They will do final pedestrian crossing tests next week. This will ensure everything works well.
These tests won’t affect the opening date. The project was supposed to finish on February 18. Weather caused a ten-day delay. Rain and cold stopped some tasks.
The new junction has crossings for walkers and cyclists. These are at the western and southern arms. The speed limit is now 30mph there. New homes are planned nearby, over 6,000.
The council said the new junction is truly needed. The old roundabout could not handle the future traffic. The council approved £1.3 million more in September. This money helped finish the roundabout project.
The budget increased for several reasons. Traffic management changed unexpectedly, requiring more funds. Construction also had necessary post-design changes. A council member said he dreams about the roundabout. It needed to finish soon.
The council said they build safely and responsibly. Several things increased the project’s total cost then. Changes to drainage plus utility diversions were impactful. They improved traffic management with lights during key phases.
This was to keep traffic moving effectively in the area. They watch the site and respond to issues actively. Existing government funds paid any extra costs.