Road closed by delayed works gets reopening date

A key route into Oxford city centre closed for more than three years in a project beset by delays is now due to reopen in September.

Botley Road was expected to reopen at the end of August, having first closed in April 2023 to upgrade Oxford Railway Station.

But following the discovery of gas leaks during recent excavation work, Network Rail said the route would instead remain closed to traffic until 20 September.

The delay is the latest setback for the project, now set to cost £237.4m, which was originally due to finish in October 2024.

Announcing the revised opening date, Tim Walden from Network Rail apologised for the further disruption.

"We know the continued closure of Botley Road has had a significant impact on residents, businesses and everyone who relies on this route," he said.

"While there is still important work to complete, we now have a clear target for reopening the road and our teams remain focused on delivering the remaining programme safely and reopening Botley Road as soon as possible."

Last week, Network Rail said it would need to delay the Botley Road reopening to "avoid disruptive and unplanned work to repair potential gas leaks in the future".

It said it had agreed to allow gas distributor SGN to replace a section of its network beneath Botley Road before traffic on the route could resume.

The latest estimated cost for the scheme, which did not just include the Botley Road works, was now £237.4m, Network Rail said.

The scheme has been delayed by issues ranging from archaeological finds to the discovery of a World War Two grenade.

Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, called the delay "catastrophic", while Oxfordshire County Council's transport chief Gareth Epps said it had been "hugely disruptive".

The county council has pegged the beginning of its new traffic filters trial to the reopening of the Botley Road, with the latest delay impacting this start.

"Residents and businesses have endured the closure of Botley Road for far too long, so we welcome the clarity on reopening," Epps said.

"We will now consider our programme for the traffic filter trial and will announce the start date at the earliest opportunity once we have absolute certainty."

The filters will replace the current temporary congestion charge, which began in October last year.