Osen Bridge re-opening delayed
Thames Water's reopening of an Oxford bridge has been delayed following more than five years of repairs.
Thames Water’s reopening of an Oxford bridge has been delayed following more than five years of repairs.
Osney Bridge has a lane, cycle path and pavement closure in place on its north side, with three-way lights controlling traffic between the Botley Road closure, Abbey Road and Osney island.
Repairs to the Thames crossing were set to be completed this summer, at the same time as Network Rail’s planned reopening of the Botley Road, but have been delayed due to “structural complications” – the Botley Road reopening has also been delayed amid gas works.
The bridge was damaged after an Environment Agency boat struck a water pipe underneath it in April 2021, and works involve repairs to the water main and to resolve “the poor condition of the footpath structure” at the site.
Signage at the site gives an end date for work as August 28, adding “we’ll finish sooner if we can”.
Last month, Thames Water said it had been given a two-week extension by Oxfordshire County Council for its work until September 10, which would “only be used if necessary”.
Now, the controversial water company said it is “working with Oxfordshire County Council to keep the lane closure on Osney Bridge until 18 September” to ensure “traffic will flow freely again from 20 September, when Network Rail reopens Botley Road”.
It will continue with overnight closures of lanes of the bridge from 8pm to 6am for around three to four weeks “if everything goes as planned”.
In a social media post, campaign group Reconnecting Oxford said: “Thames Water were supposed to have finished work on the Botley Road yesterday."
“This clearly hasn’t happened."
“In a few weeks, this will be the only route for out-of-town shoppers to access Westgate by car without a permit.”
County and city councillor Susanna Pressel has previously called the situation frustrating for drivers and cyclists with delays caused by the work on the bridge.
The current schedule would ensure the bridge is open when the Network Rail reopening takes place, and traffic filters begin with the road as the access route for non-permit holders or those who have used all their permits to access the Westgate by car.
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “Due to structural complications that were identified on Osney Bridge, Thames Water was required to revise its designs to ensure the trunk mains could be replaced safely, while complying with the bridge’s structural requirements and avoiding any damage."
“We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and are working to complete the project as quickly as possible, in tandem with the completion of work being carried out at Oxford Train Station to minimise disruption.”