New Oxford Botley Road completion date given after “shambolic delays”

Network Rail has produced a new timeline for the reopening of Botley Road in Oxford. Complex works on the railway bridge have shut the road for nearly two years. The bridge is now estimated to open in August 2026 – Just over three years since the first closure.

The road was initially shut in April 2023 and was set to reopen in October 2024, but the discovery of previously unknown utilities and drainage under the roadbed has led to continual delays to its reopening.

Network Rail has worked with the Department for Transport to create the new timeline for the multi-million-pound project. The rail minister, Lord Hendy has visited the site alongside Network Rail’s chief executive Sir Andrew Haines to outline the new programme.

Lord Hendy told residents and businesses: “I tasked Network Rail with producing a robust plan for its completion, which included additional measures to minimise and mitigate disruption as much as possible while still allowing this work to progress.

“I’m pleased they have acted, and I can assure residents and businesses that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Part of the programme will see a new walkway open, as well as an upgraded flood defence system and concrete layer that is hoped will to keep rising ground water below surface level. Network Rail and its contractors will also be installing a new pumping system as well as new retention tanks.

Work began in 2023 to build a new wider bridge to help accommodate an extra track that would eventually link into the new Platform 5 at Oxford Station. The new platform is being added to accommodate trains terminating from London stations. Alongside being widened, the new bridge will be made higher, to ensure double decker buses can drive underneath.

Delays have continually plagued the project and new designs put forward by Network Rail to move the water mains that run underneath the road have been repeatedly refused by Thames Water. An agreement on a new location was reached in November 2024 and work started shortly after.

The local MP Layla Moran said after a meeting with both Haines and Hendy in December that Network Rail had said “sorry”.

“Network Rail have demonstrated utterly shambolic project management from start to finish, and residents have lost all faith in them to deliver this project.

"It is up to them now to convince our community they have a credible plan to get this project finished.” She added at the time.

Network Rail have put measures in place which it hopes will minimise disruption for residents and businesses including extra security at the bridge tunnel, improvements to CCTV, signage and lighting near the tunnel and additional disabled bays being added at the western side of the station. Changes to traffic management have also been made after feedback from residents.

A new feedback scheme has also been launched, and residents can email [email protected] to find out more.