Worcester Street, Oxford, reopens after sinkhole works

Road workers have rectified the defect in Worcester Street, and after an overnight closure it has been retarmacked and the road reopened this afternoon.

Read the full story: Sinkhole opens up in Oxford

A county council highways maintenance worker told the Oxford Mail the hole was approximately 1.2metres deep and 1.4metres wide.

The worker added that it was not clear what had caused the sinkhole but it has now been filled with aggregate.

Rush hour traffic yesterday evening and this morning was severe, with the closure causing congestion on key routes including Botley Road.

Picture: Ed Nix

Bus providers reported major disruption to some of their services, warning of delays of up to half an hour. 

#Swindon Route S6. Heavy traffic within Oxford is causing heavy disruption to this service. We have delays of up to 30 minutes to this service.

— Stagecoach West (@Stagecoach_West) July 2, 2019

SERVICE UPDATE: We are seeing delays of approximately 20 minutes on Oxford Tube journeys due to heavy traffic in Oxford City centre. Please allow extra time for travel.

— Oxford Tube (@Oxford_Tube) July 2, 2019

Worcester Street update - With immediate effect our City 5 services will now serve the rail station as normal. Please be advised our 500 services are still terminating in Magdalene Street and are not serving the rail station. . Apologies for any inconvenience caused. pic.twitter.com/aVDectk6L0

— Oxford Bus Company (@OxfordBusCo) July 2, 2019

The road was closed in both directions from George Street to Walton Street, but pedestrians and cyclists are able to pass. It was reopened about 1.30pm.

Despite the police cordon yesterday, preventing motorists from accessing the road, people on foot were able to wander right up to the sinkhole.

Oxford City Council has been contacted for further information.