The bridge under the rail line at Oxford rail station will be closed from 11th April 2023 until the end of October 2023 to allow for work to take place prior to the complete replacement of the bridge in 2024.
There will be disruption during the works, including to bus services, local delivery services and pedestrian/ cycle access between Frideswide Square and Botley road.
No traffic will be allowed to pass under the bridge from either direction, although traffic travelling East along Botley road will be able to gain access to side roads up to this point. The pedestrian tunnel will remain open for use by pedestrians and cyclists (who will need to dismount). The footbridge over the rail line between Mill Street and Becket Street will remain open for the duration of the works (apart from one-week in Summer 2023). The underpass running between the river Thames towpath and Rewley road will also remain open, as will crossing further North into Jericho.
All bus services approaching Oxford using Botley road will drop off at the stop opposite Osney Island. Passengers will need to make their own way from this stop to the rail station, from where buses into the city centre will run.
To use bus services westward along Botley road, passengers will need to make their own way from the rail station to the stop at St Frideswide church.
Marshals will be on-site 24 hours a day to help with issues when they arise.
MyVision and Oxtalk (Oxford & District Talking Newspaper) are currently working with Network Rail to produce audio guides to help people navigate their way between bus stops. Links to these will be provided once they are complete.
For more details of Stagecoach bus services please visit: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/oxfordshire/botley-road-closure
For Oxford Bus Company services, please visit: https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/botley-road-closure
Further details on the works are also available at: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/western/oxfordshire/oxford-corridor-phase-2/
Radio Oxford have conducted interviews about the bridge closure. You can listen to the latest coverage, broadcast on 4th April (the relevant section begins at 2:18:30) at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f8phdp
The Oxfordshire Comet bus service start to provide an additional service which will be called ‘The Botley Road Comet’. Find out more here:
We will provide further updates as they become available.
