Network Rail has postponed the re-opening of a major road route into Oxford and has not been able to say when its beleaguered project will be completed.
The replacement of the Botley Road bridge, including the lowering of the road to enable double-decker buses to pass below it, is part of a £161m scheme to redevelop Oxford rail station.
Work was supposed to begin in January 2023 but did not begin until April of that year, since when the project has been beset by complications and delays, including architectural finds and a Second World War grenade.
image source: Network Rail
The replacement of the railway bridge was due to take place at the end of this month, with the road due to re-open in October, but this has now been postponed.
Network rail said work to divert ‘the complex layout of utility pipes and cables’ under the road, including the sewer system, cannot be completed in time.
In a statement, the government-owned infrastructure operator said: ‘We know how important Botley Road is to Oxford and apologise to local residents and businesses for the ongoing inconvenience.
‘We are working with Oxfordshire County and Oxford City councils to agree the best way forward to complete the project and minimise impact on the city.’
It added that the planned closure of the railway through Oxford at the end of July has now been reduced to two days – Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July.
Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: ‘These delays to the scheme are hugely frustrating for all in the city living with the disruption. Oxford residents and businesses need absolute clarity about when the Botley Road will open and what the implications for County's traffic filters plans are.
‘Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council must find a positive resolution and provide that clarity as a matter of urgency.’
