Drivers face A34 Botley Interchange delays from gas works
Gas network company SGN will start work to upgrade the local gas supply from 8pm tonight and this will last approximately two weeks, being carried out in two phases.
The first phase will mean the southbound carriageway is closed until 5am on Monday, while the second phase will see the closure reduced to one lane from Tuesday, November 7 until Sunday, November 12.
Julian Le Vay, of residents’ pressure group West Oxford Access, said the gas work was the latest difficulty facing drivers using the Botley interchange, or trying to access Botley Road.
He added: “Every time I have tried to get back into the Botley Road from Peartree via the Botley Interchange it has been horrendous.
“People will now roll their eyes in despair but this latest work will undoubtedly cause further delays for drivers.
“If possible drivers could try to avoid using the Botley Interchange during this time but it’s not always possible – some people have mobility issues and this will have an impact on their daily lives.”
Mr Le Vay said the gas work was the latest blow for traders in the Botley Road area.
He praised Oxford West and Abingdon[2] MP Layla Moran for speaking to local businesses and lobbying the government on their behalf for compensation.
The county[3] council has said the latest gas works are “emergency” and officers have been working closely with contractors to ensure the work is carried out as smoothly as possible.
It comes as city traders claim they have been hit by “a perfect storm of disruption” as overlapping construction works continue at both ends of Botley Road.
National Highways has been carrying out work at the Botley interchange and Network Rail has closed the other end of Botley Road at the rail bridge for a £161m revamp of Oxford station, with the closure due to end in October 2024.
Network Rail works in Botley Road (Image: Photo: Andy Ffrench)
As part of the latest gasworks, SGN said the northbound slip road at the interchange would remain open and a signed diversion route would be in place via A34, A40 and Eastern Bypass.
A spokesman said the work will “hopefully not affect gas supply” and advised drivers to allow additional time.
The company said the work was part of a programme to replace the existing metal gas pipelines with new plastic pipes, ensuring the continued safety and reliability of the gas supply to the local community.
A spokesman for SGN added: “This essential work forms part of an ongoing mains replacement programme developed with the health and safety executive.
He said work was starting following discussions with Oxfordshire County Council and National Highways.
SGN project manager Bob Taylor said earlier: “We’ve worked closely with the local authorities in planning this work and we will be doing everything we can to limit disruption during our essential project.”
A county council spokesman said: “The A34 is the responsibility of National Highways, not Oxfordshire County Council.
“However, our officers work very closely with the contractors to make sure the correct mitigations are in place and, crucially, that people know what they are.
“We would urge people to have a look and understand what those closures are, make the necessary arrangements and, most importantly, follow the diversion signs.
“Do not try to divert through Wolvercote and Wytham, as many drivers did last time that stretch of the A34 was closed – often directed by their sat-navs – which caused chaos.
“That route is not available. There will be signs and marshals which we have asked the contractors to supply.
“These works are not being carried out by Oxfordshire County Council but the contractors do need to coordinate with us. This latest SGN work is emergency work.
“They are allowed to do it. We have no power to prevent them from doing it, and we accept it needs to be done.”
National Highways work at Botley interchange is expected to continue until March.
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Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. [7]
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