THE closure of a road in central Oxford is likely to cause 10 weeks of traffic disruption, it has been warned.

Oxfordshire County Council has agreed to close George Street from Sunday, May 11, while a construction firm carries out work to a building.

It means bus services will have to be re-routed via Beaumont Street, where parking will be suspended to allow for the temporary stops.

Stagecoach Oxfordshire has said six of its bus routes will be affected by the closure.

Spokesman Karen Coventry said: “Buses on route S1, S2, S3, 14,17 and 18 will divert and pick up and set down passengers in Beaumont Street whilst George Street is closed. We recognise that this will inconvenience many people but there are no other alternative routes available.”

She added that planned improvements to the S1, S2 and S3 services on June 1 have now been put on hold until after the work is complete.

Oxford Bus Company has said its services will not be affected as much.

Spokesman Phil Ashworth said: “For the duration of the works, services operating from Pear Tree and Redbridge will terminate in Oxford city centre. This means that there will be no through-service between Pear Tree and Redbridge. Bus stops on George Street and New Road will not be served by park-and-ride 300 services.”

From May 11 George Street will be closed between its Cornmarket end and Victoria Court for around four weeks.

After this there will be one-way traffic only on the street for around six weeks on the same stretch of road.

To allow for this a 24-hour clearway is being created in Beaumont Street to make way for temporary bus stops – meaning pay-and-display parking, disabled parking and loading bays will be suspended.

Martin Crabtree, a spokesman for the county council, said: “ISG Construction Ltd has made the request for a temporary road closure, No Waiting and Loading restriction to apply to George Street and Beaumont Street because of underground installation of joint mains services and communications in George Street.”

An ISG spokesman said: "As part of a major upgrade and refurbishment project that ISG is delivering in central Oxford, we need to install new and improved mains services and communications infrastructure within George Street.

"George Street remains open for business as usual throughout this period and access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians at all times, with temporary traffic lights in place at the bottom of George Street and the Worcester Street junction.

"Bus stops will also be relocated from George Street to Beaumont Street, and parking arrangements temporarily altered during this period.

"To minimise the impact of this work, we plan to re-open half of the carriageway on George Street following this initial period on a one-way only traffic system from George Street towards Victoria Court, while the final elements of the upgraded services installation are completed.

"We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this work may cause."