A NEW aerial image has revealed how a £5.8m revamp will transform Frideswide Square in Oxford.

Thousands of motorists drive through the junction at the end of Botley Road every day and the square includes the entrance to the rail station.

Highways engineers have come up with a scheme to help traffic flow more freely by introducing three roundabouts, with traffic heading along a central boulevard.

There will be one large roundabout outside the station with two mini-roundabouts outside the Royal Oxford Hotel.

When the work is finished all the existing traffic lights will be removed.

On Thursday Oxfordshire County Council displayed the latest images of the scheme at the Jam Factory in Frideswide Square in a public exhibition.

County cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith, who attended the exhibition, said: “Ideally we would prefer it if people didn’t bring their cars into the city centre but we have to be realistic and we know that lots of drivers use this junction every day, with car parks at the station and at Oxpens.

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“By smartening up Frideswide Square we will give people a better opportunity to sit down and enjoy it instead of passing straight through.

“We wanted to improve the flow of vehicles.”

From Monday, engineers will start removing traffic islands.

Then the first phase of work will begin on Friday, February 27, with the scheme due for completion in December.

Graham Jones, a spokesman for traders’ group Rox (Rescue Oxford), welcomed the proposals.

He said: “It’s a lot better than the current scheme, although I do have a slight concern about capacity.

“We first suggested something similar for Frideswide Square featuring roundabouts a few years ago.”

Amanda Suliman-Bell, who runs the Rainbow and Spoon clothes store in the square, said: “I am very hopeful this scheme will work – we just have to get through the roadworks.

“The images look promising.”

Andrew Norton, the owner of the Jam Factory restaurant in the square, said: “I know just how congested this area is – the only time traffic runs freely is when the lights are broken. I think the roundabouts will work. I’m a cyclist and I think the design is cycle-friendly.”

Oxford City Council city centre manager Laurie Taylor said: “The station is a huge gateway into the city and the area needs to reflect the world-class status Oxford has.”

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