Botley Road: More works planned for major route

Botley Road will remain closed until October 2024

More disruption could be in the pipeline for a major road already closed for extensive works.

Botley Road in Oxford has been shut since April as part of a scheme to expand the city's railway station.

Thames Water is now also set to fix a leaking pipe on Osney Bridge next year, with work extending after the conclusion of the station upgrade.

The firm said it would update residents soon and give "sufficient notice before any works start".

Botley Road was closed in April, and then a six-month break to the work was cancelled after the project fell behind schedule.

It is now not set to reopen until October 2024, with a petition demanding compensation for companies affected by the works receiving more than 300 signatures in September.

Thames Water said the work on Osney Bridge was still in the "planning stages", but was due to start next year and expected to last until March 2025.

• Botley Road closure extended due to 'unique challenges'

• Botley Road roadwork delays concern businesses

A spokesperson from Oxfordshire Country Council said "it has not been possible for the Thames Water repairs to completely overlap with the Botley Road closure", citing Environment Agency (EA) restrictions.

The BBC has contact the EA for a response.

The council spokesperson said the work would "involve traffic management and not a full closure".

"We will work with [Thames Water] to minimise the impact on residents and business, and its effects on the rest of the road network," they added.

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