New walkway 'key milestone' for Botley Road timeline

The four-metre wide walkway links Botley Road to Frideswide Square

A new walkway has opened in Oxford as part of a £231m project to upgrade the city station.

Network Rail said the four-metre wide walkway, which links Botley Road to Frideswide Square, would offer improvements with existing access and more space for pedestrians and cyclists.

The operator said it was "another key milestone" in reopening the road by the end of August 2026, after it was closed at the railway bridge since April 2023.

The scheme has been through several delays, leaving communities frustrated and leading to long-standing businesses experiencing a drop in sales.

Some, such as Courtney Pianos, closed down.

Network Rail said cyclists would be asked to dismount while using the shared surface until next year for safety reasons.

Network Rail said the walkway was "another key milestone" in the plan to reopen Botley Road by the end of August 2026

The work at Botley Road was "vital to creating a bigger, better station" and "an improved and safer road layout", Network Rail said.

Western route managing director Marcus Jones said "we're on track to the new timeline we committed to earlier this year".

Mr Jones said they were "pleased to have achieved this milestone" and thanked the local community and residents for their patience.

Anna Railton, deputy leader of Oxford City Council and cabinet member for a Zero Carbon Oxford, said the new path would "help to ease the flow of people in and around the area".

In June, rail minister Lord Hendy said some of the small businesses affected by the works would be eligible to receive one-off payments from a £850,000 government fund to "recognise the trouble the delays have caused".

Residents also said they were negatively affected by roads resurfacing works to transform Abbey Road, Cripley Road and Cripley Place into bus turning circles.

The next update session in Oxford will take place on 24 September at The King's Centre on Osney Mead.