Press release

FAR EASTERN PROMISE FOR WEST END AS WORK BEGINS ON OXFORD CIRCUS

28 April 2009

Crossing one of the world's busiest intersections is set to be made easier as work begins this week on a £5 million Japanese-inspired makeover which will allow shoppers to walk across Oxford Circus diagonally for the first time.

Taking a lead from Tokyo's famous Shibuya crossing, renowned for allowing people to cross with ease, Oxford Circus is set to get all its existing barriers and street clutter ripped out and remodelled in order to give pedestrians the freedom to move around quickly both straight ahead and diagonally – across both Regent Street and Oxford Street.

The busy intersection is one of the most popular destinations in the world with more than 200 million visitors a year, and designers have adapted the same technology used in blockbuster films such as the Lord of the Rings to ensure the layout of the new crossing can cope with the vast numbers of people who pass through it.

The redesigned road will double the amount of pavement, and more space around the exits to Oxford Circus Tube station will be freed up.

As part of the works more than half a kilometre of both Regent Street and Oxford Street are being redesigned with wider pavements and new lighting.

The revamped crossing is due to reopen in time for the Regent Street and Oxford Street Christmas lights switch ons in November. This forms a key part Westminster City Council’s wider plans to renew the West End ahead of 2012. The revamped Oxford Circus is being funded by The Crown Estate, owner of Regent Street from Oxford to Piccadilly Circuses, and Transport for London, and is supported by the New West End Company which represents businesses in Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street.

David Shaw, Head of Regent Street at The Crown Estate said: "We are extremely excited by the Oxford Circus proposals which will deliver dramatic improvements for shoppers, workers and residents on Regent Street for years to come.

"Our vision for Regent Street is of a quality international shopping destination, a successful business location and a place for people."

Cllr Danny Chalkley, Westminster City Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "Taking our inspiration from the Far East makes perfect sense as the Japanese have perfected the art of managing large numbers of people through good design and engineering, and the West End, like Tokyo's Shibuya district, is a fashion and entertainment hub which attracts visitors in huge numbers.

"This new crossing, which will transform Oxford Circus and ensure visitors who emerge from the tube are impressed by what greets them, is part of a whole series of improvements taking place to ensure the West End looks truly world class in time for 2012."

David Brown, Managing Director for Surface Transport, TfL said: “TfL is pleased to be part of the partnership to fund this innovative scheme.

“The new diagonal layout will deliver a vastly improved crossing for pedestrians and upgraded public realm.”

Richard Dickinson, chief executive of the New West End Company, said: "The improvements to the Oxford Circus diagonals are just one of many outstanding enhancements resulting from over £2 bn of investment into London's West End. 250,000 people enter or leave Oxford Circus station every day so it's essential that their first ground-level view and experience of the West End is pleasing.

"We're delighted that the Oxford Circus diagonals will allow more space for pedestrians and give the Oxford Street and Regent Street juncture back to the shoppers. Nine out of ten visitors to London come to the West End so we have a duty to ensure that it continues to be the world's top shopping destination in 2012."

As part of the work additional 'oases' will be created in nearby side roads Princes Street and Little Argyll Street, which will be part pedestrianised to allow for al fresco dining and possible street entertainment.

For the duration of the works Princes Street will act as the main support depot for the construction.

The designated pedestrian crossings on each of the four roads entering Oxford Circus will be enhanced by two diagonal crossings across the centre of the junction, which will link with each corner.

Traffic lights are set to be rephased so that vehicles from all four directions will be stopped simultaneously for 30 seconds allowing people to walk safely across the junction diagonally. The complete traffic sequence will be 115-120 seconds.

The new designs have been drawn up by engineering consultancy Atkins after discussions with Westminster City Council's transport department, using sophisticated computer software known as 'Fathom' and 'Legion' to model pedestrian movement.

Atkins project manager, Chris Greenwood, said: “By using the latest 3D modelling techniques we were able effectively to put 5,000 people into the redesigned crossing area to see what would happen.

“The results we got indicated the design changes should have a massively beneficial effect.

“While this was a virtual simulation the software we’re now using is so realistic we are totally confident the real world results will be just as good.”

The main contractor carrying out the work is West One, which is also carrying out major work below ground as well as above it as part of the remodelling of the crossing.