Time is ticking as Botley Road answers could be months away

The busy route into the city has been closed at the bridge since April last year as work continues on a GBP161m Network Rail scheme to revamp Oxford station. The upgrade has been plagued with delays, as utility companies dig up the road. In July the rail authority announced the road would not reopen as scheduled at the end of October.

READ MORE: Network rail bosses update timetable on Botley Road [1] As the scheme, referred to by Network Rail as ‘Oxfordshire Connect’, is over-budget, some residents were hoping there would be an indication in Rachel Reeves’ Budget last week [2] on whether it had been allocated additional spending. But while there was positive news for East West Rail,[3] there was no mention of the Oxford station scheme.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “As there is no mention of Oxfordshire Connect in the Budget, we don’t have any updates to provide at the moment.” Rail minister Lord Hendy has apologised for the delays but to date there has been no announcement to say when the road will reopen, as a full review of the project is under way. (Image: Network Rail) Last month Network Rail said it would be in a better position to provide an update after Thames Water’s water main and sewer diversion work between Abbey Road and Mill Street is completed.

READ MORE: Dog was killed fleeing surprise fireworks [4] Work to dig trial holes began at the start of last month and was expected to take five weeks to complete, with a further month’s work needed to analyse the findings and validate the designs, cost, and work programme. Network Rail said at the time: “Once this information is shared with Network Rail, discussions can continue with funders around potential options for the overall scheme.”

City and county [5] councillor Susanna Pressel said Network Rail was not in a better position to inform the public after the Budget. She added it was not likely there would be any new information until contractors Kier finish work connecting up the water main on behalf of Thames Water. “No-one knows how long this will take,” Ms Pressel said.

(Image: Network Rail) The councillor added that residents are also waiting for the rail authority to conduct a full review of the project. “They will have to come up with a costing for the remainder of the work,” she said. “The Department for Transport will need a chance to study the review, and the Minister will decide whether to go ahead.”

The Oxford Mail submitted a series of questions to Network Rail via a Freedom of Information request but it declined to answers the questions fully, and failed to provide details about the projected overspend. Ms Pressel added: “The road under the bridge should have been reopened at the end of October. I’m afraid it may now not be until next year that we are even told when the road will be reopened.” Jericho resident John Mair said: “I am in the dark, Oxford is in the dark and so too it seems is Network Rail.

“Still no answer on an end date for their works which have closed Botley Road for 19 months. It has gone beyond a joke. It is now a farce – please end it.”

Traders including Rainbow & Spoon boutique in Frideswide Square have complained the continuing work is harming footfall. East West Railway (EWR) will eventually link Oxford and Cambridge via Bicester [6], Milton Keynes and Bedford, with the Oxford to Milton Keynes section due to open next year. A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “We’re aware of the disruption the closure of Botley Road is causing and acknowledge the concerns and the inconveniences to local residents, businesses and visitors to Oxford.

“We expect to be able to give residents and stakeholders clarity on next steps as soon as possible.” Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe [7]

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About the author Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. [8] He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.

References

^ READ MORE: Network rail bosses update timetable on Botley Road (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ Rachel Reeves’ Budget last week (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ East West Rail, (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ READ MORE: Dog was killed fleeing surprise fireworks (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ county (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ Bicester (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ can sign up to his newsletters for free here. (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)