As part of a £161million station and railway upgrade, Botley Road will be temporarily closed at the point the rail bridge crosses the road near Oxford station from 11 April 2023 until the end of October 2024, to enable station and track improvements and highways redevelopment.
Network Rail, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council are encouraging motorists and Oxford residents to plan alternate routes as work is now underway.
The new rail bridge will bring several benefits, including a four-metre cycle and footpath added on each side of the road beneath it to increase safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
The planned closure periods are as follows:
- 11 April 2023 to the end of October 2024: Botley Road closure for through traffic at the Botley Road bridge
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Sign up for the latest information on the Network Rail website.
For more information on the Oxford station project, please visit the Oxfordshire Connect pages of the Network Rail website.
For the latest highways information, please visit the Oxfordshire County Council website.
FAQs
For a full FAQ on the works, please visit Network Rail’s Oxfordshire Connect page.
Support for businesses affected by the closure
Businesses directly impacted by the closure may be eligible for a temporary reduction in business rates from the Valuation Office Agency.
Oxford City Council is not the awarding body for Business Rate Relief for businesses affected by the rail bridge works.
For more information, please visit the Business Rates pages of GOV.UK.
Bin collections
There may be slightly adjusted collection times as a result of vehicles having to alter their route but collection days will remain the same.
Travel options
Botley Road Flyer
If you have any mobility needs or physical impairments that mean the current arrangements at the rail bridge closure create access challenges for you, then please make use of this free service, called ‘The Botley Road Flyer’.
This is a new service, so if you have any feedback or particular route requests, please email oxfordphase2@networkrail.co.uk or call 01865 768329 for further information.
The telephone number for booking a wheelchair space is 01865 768329.
Days of operation: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Botley Road pick-up points:
- West Oxford Community Centre – 10am
- Bus stop by Magenta self-storage – 10.05am
- The Seacourt Bridge – 10.10am
Planned route stops: Summertown, Walton Street for Jericho Health Centre and outside County Hall on New Road for the Westgate Centre. Beaumont Street is available on request.
The return journey will start at 12.45pm from the Westgate Centre stop, before going into Jericho and out to Summertown, collecting passengers at each stop. As before, the driver will arrange with passengers about picking-up times.
Park and pedal
The City Council’s bike parking facilities at Seacourt and Redbridge Park and Ride sites feature 70 cycle parking spaces at Redbridge and 40 spaces at Seacourt.
Cars and Coaches
The closure is expected to redistribute traffic across Oxford - both on the Botley Road, as well as on other main routes into the city, such as Woodstock Road and Banbury Road.
Those who normally drive into Oxford along Botley Road will need to find alternative routes or park outside the affected area and finish their journeys by other means.
Seacourt Park and Ride is closest as it is located on Botley Road.
Buses
Buses will continue serving Botley Road but terminate at the railway bridge. If you need to continue your journey, you will need to get off, walk under the bridge and catch a new bus.
Train
The railway station will be open throughout the works, with rail services operating normally unless otherwise advertised. For more information on travel options, please visit the Oxfordshire County Council website.
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