Preparation for the second phase of the Access to Headington project began today ahead of 26 weeks of roadworks.

Contractors working for Oxfordshire County Council began setting up the site ahead of construction beginning on Tuesday, April 18.

The latest phase of the project will focus on The Slade between Old Road and the mini roundabout at the junction of Hollow Way and Horspath Driftway.

The council said the prep work would be done off peak to reduce the impact on traffic and keep noise and disruption to a minimum.

The first phase of Access to Headington was completed last month. 

The £12.5m project is intended to improve access to the area's hospitals, schools and employment sites including Oxford Brookes.

Its objectives are to make it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport, reduce congestion and to provide safer options for travel to school and university for pedestrians and cyclists.

It also aims to improve health and wellbeing by reducing the environmental impact of transport.

It will include new and improved cycle routes, new pedestrian crossing, significant upgrades to existing junctions and 'bus priority measures' at the Churchill Hospital/Old Road campus site.