Botley Road bridge replacement
The replacement of Botley Road railway bridge this summer has been postponed.
Replacement of the railway bridge over Botley Road – which was due to take place at the end of July 2024 – has been postponed.
Despite concerted effort by all organisations involved, the work to divert the complex layout of utility pipes and cables under the road – including the sewer system – can’t be completed in time.
It’s a vital piece of the puzzle, and when completed it will enable the expansion of Oxford station and the introduction of more train services. It will allow for the creation of a fifth platform and will result in an improved and safer local road layout so that buses, cyclists and pedestrians can more easily access the city centre.
However, the utilities need to be moved out of the way before we can install the foundations for the new bridge and the delay to the diversions means Botley Road will not now reopen in October as planned.
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.
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. For more information see our Oxfordshire signalling and track upgrades page.
Works in preparation
Travelling by bus
Buses continue to serve Botley Road but during the road closure terminate at stops either side of the railway bridge. If you need to continue your journey, you will need to get off, walk under the bridge on the footpath, and catch a new bus.
Further travel advice is available on the Oxfordshire County Council website:
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Contact us
If you have any questions or require more information about the scheme, you can email us at: OxfordPhase2@networkrail.co.uk or visit our contact us page.