Drivers faced substantial delays at Oxford's Westgate car park on Sunday, 11 October 2026. One mother, Emily Strange, reported being stranded for approximately three hours with her partner and two young children.
The congestion occurred during the Oxford Half Marathon and the ongoing trial of new traffic filters, which commenced on 28 September. Shoppers and drivers complained of gridlock across the city centre.
Westgate Oxford acknowledged the severe congestion and stated that staff provided water to guests waiting to exit. They apologised to those who experienced delays.
Oxfordshire County Council attributed the congestion to traffic from the half marathon, noting that road closures were in place until mid-afternoon. The council stated it is monitoring the impacts of the traffic filter trial carefully, as it is still in its early days.