Milestone Infrastructure to improve walking, cycling and bus routes along a large section of Botley Road

Milestone Infrastructure, a part of M Group Services, has worked with client Oxfordshire County Council to improve walking, cycling and bus routes along a large section of Botley Road, in Oxford.

This was an important project that involved road widening and realignment with works including the creation of a new bus lane and cycling facilities. The team also introduced traffic signals to three busy junctions, performed drainage improvements, resurfaced the road and upgraded streetlights.

Botley Road has an avenue of mature trees which are of significant local interest. Milestone’s careful planning and design ensured that as many trees as possible were left untouched. To ensure the safety of the trees the team used sensitive excavation techniques as well as products such as Flexipave, an environmentally friendly and porous material suitable for covering the tree roots.

Protecting the trees and services around the site while ensuring traffic kept flowing and access to frontages was maintained were key priorities during the delivery of this project.

Richard Stonehouse, Contracts Manager at Milestone Infrastructure, said: “We are pleased to have completed the successful delivery of these road improvements with Oxfordshire County Council. The works started in June 2020 and has required the Milestone team to overcome challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“Our collaboration has supported a reduction in congestion that will bring important environmental benefits to the people of Oxford, as well as the crucial safer and faster routes for cyclists, pedestrians and public transport.”

While completing the works, Milestone also volunteered their services to revamp an abandoned play area at Botley School.

The renovation involved refurbishing the play area so it is safe for the children to use, upgrading the broken gates and fences and tidying the vegetable garden.

Jenny Ayres School Business Manager at Botley School said: “Milestone went above and beyond to improve our neglected annex play area, and their hard work means we should be able to open this up to students again soon, which is fantastic. They have certainly achieved the aim of serving and helping the local community.”