Highway works will be taking place from 24 June on Oxford streets to prepare for six traffic filters as part of a trial to reduce congestion approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet in November 2022.
Over the summer, the council’s contractors will prepare foundations for traffic signs near the filter points at Hollow Way, Hythe Bridge St, St Cross Road, St Clements, Marston Ferry Road and Thames Street.
Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s Corporate Director for Environment and Place, explained: “Traffic levels and congestion in and around Oxford are high. We have to do something about this. Our aim is to reduce congestion by trialling camera-operated traffic filters on six roads in the city to help lower the number of private car journeys.
“Traffic filters are part of the central Oxfordshire travel plan and Oxfordshire’s local transport and connectivity plan. They are designed to work together with other measures to reduce traffic; make bus journeys faster; allow for new and improved bus routes; make walking and cycling safer; reduce local air pollution; and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.”
The work will be carried out off the carriageway, with temporary traffic signals in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the works at each traffic filter site. Work is expected to take between four and eight days on most sites.
As part of the trial, there will be a six-month public consultation, and the project’s impacts will be closely monitored. The council may make changes during the trial, including in response to monitoring or feedback.
Residents can find out more on the trial, including on applying for free permits to travel through the filters, by visiting www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/trafficfilters. Residents can also sign up to our travel e-newsletter to receive the latest news and updates.
About traffic filters
Permits
Residents in Oxford and some areas just outside the city will be able to apply for a free permit allowing them to drive through the traffic filters for up to 100 days each year.
Other Oxfordshire residents will be able to apply for a free permit allowing them to drive through the traffic filters for up to 25 days each year.
Residents will be able to create an online account to apply for and manage their permits. For those who cannot apply online, the council’s customer service team will give assistance. The council is currently developing the permit system, and more details will be provided when the applications open later in the summer.
Full details of the different type of permits are available on the council’s website.
Operating times
The filters are not physical barriers. The filter points on six roads in the city will be enforced by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
Traffic filters have different operating hours, depending on location. Cars should not drive through the filter point in operating hours unless they have a permit or are exempt. Operating hours for most filters are Monday to Sunday, 7am – 7pm or, at Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, Monday to Saturday, 7am – 9am and 3pm -6pm.
PIC-OXFORDSHIRE CC
