THE barrier at the south end of Walton Street will be removed tomorrow after more than a year and a half in place.

The barrier at the junction of Walton Street and Beaumont Street will be taken down at 5am tomorrow (Tuesday, May 18).

The decision to remove it was taken on April 29 by Oxfordshire County Council's then-cabinet member for transport and the environment, Yvonne Constance.

She said it would be taken down on May 17, when an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) allowing its use would end.

However, Thames Water discovered damage to a sewage pipe under the street earlier this month using ground penetrating radar and set up more fences and barriers at the end of the road to carry out repairs.

Oxford Mail:

At the time the water company said it was confident repairs could be finished in time for the end of the ETRO.

Now, one day after the planned removal day, it will be taken down.

Once the barrier is removed, all vehicles will be able to use the road as they did before the closure began in 2019.

READ AGAIN: A timeline of the Walton Street barrier

There had been plans to install a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Jericho and Walton Manor off the back of the barrier, but this was scrapped.

Once the barrier is taken down, other localised traffic management measures implemented to complement the closure will also be removed including at the St Bernard’s Road junction.