Starting 5 May 2026, Oxfordshire County Council will introduce a new system to shorten the time roadworks take to complete in Oxford and across Oxfordshire. The initiative aims to lower traffic disruption for drivers and residents by charging utility companies and developers for the time they spend working on the busiest routes.
Under the new rules, companies could be charged up to £2,500 every day they occupy high-traffic roads during the busiest parts of the morning and afternoon. This charge applies to about 9% of the local road network, specifically chosen because of high traffic volumes, frequent bus services, and heavy pedestrian use.
Emergency safety repairs will have a 48-hour grace period before any charges are applied to ensure urgent fixes are not delayed. The council has confirmed that its own road crews will also have to pay these charges, ensuring that all work on the highway is managed with the same level of urgency.
Money collected from these daily fees will be put back into maintaining and improving the local transport network. The plan was originally approved by the government in November 2025 following a successful application by the council to change how it manages road space.
Councillor Andrew Gant explained that the goal of the scheme is to encourage contractors to work outside of peak hours or finish their tasks more quickly. This change is intended to make daily travel across the county more predictable and less frustrating for the local community.
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