Twelve-month Botley Road closure could delay new bus gates

It emerged on Monday that the multi-million pound scheme to improve Oxford railway station will result in a year-long closure, starting on January 9.

The county council and Network Rail have agreed that closing the road from January to December, at Botley Road rail bridge, is now the best course of action.

The road will remain open, but traffic will not be able to drive under the rail bridge.

Read again: Botley Road will be closed for 12 months for rail scheme 

In September, Network Rail announced that there would be an initial 14-week closure starting from November 12.

But now an unprecedented year-long closure has been announced, starting in January, so that contractors are given an uninterrupted period of time to complete all the work they need to before Christmas 2023.

Work includes rerouting utility cables, replacing the rail bridge, and starting construction of a new western entrance to the station.

The county council has acknowledged that other routes, including Abingdon Road, will get busier as a result of the closure.

And it has pledged to review the timing of the introduction of other major traffic initiatives, which includes the bus gates - otherwise known as traffic fliters.

Public consultation on the bus gates has now concluded, and if approved by the council's cabinet the six new traffic filters would be introduced on a trial basis in summer 2023.

Read again: New bus gates will cost £3m

But the Botley Road scheme appears to have placed a question mark over this timetable.

A decision is due at a council meeting on November 29, and it is possible council leaders may now decide to postpone the introduction of the controversial new camera-enforced traffic filters, like the one operating in High Street.

The council said in a statement: "The county council is assessing the impact this (the Botley Road closure) may have on the timing of its own schemes in and around Oxford."

However, it would not expand on this statement in advance of the November 29 meeting.

Andrew Gant, cabinet member for highway management, said: "The station project is Network Rail's project but it is not one we have initiated. Our job is to work with them.

"It was not in the playbook but we have to deal with it."

Referring to the cabinet meeting on November 29, when a decision on approving the new traffic filters will be considered, Mr Gant added: "I cannot prejudge what my decision will be."

A decision will be taken by all members of the cabinet including Mr Gant.

On Monday the county council said in a statement: "Detailed discussions (with Network Rail) led to the conclusion that there should be a 12-month road closure of the Botley Road for the duration of the work.

"Due to scale and nature of the works on the highway, including the need to divert vital utility services such as water, gas and electricity, the impact on Botley Road will be significant. Network Rail plan to publicise further detail in mid-November.

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"During discussions with Network Rail, the county council fully explored a traditional approach of a series of lane closures under temporary lights.

"However a condensed 12-month programme with a point closure of Botley Road for the duration of the work is considered preferable as it reduces risk to timeframe/programme.

"This method of accommodating the railway work would preserve access to businesses and services along Botley Road and minimise the likelihood of the substantial queuing that would occur with just lane closures."

Some Oxford Mail readers pointed out that the Botley Road closure, combined with new bus gates, would limit access for drivers heading to the Westgate Centre.

One said: "If OCC refuses to listen to us, perhaps they will listen to the howls of protest from the businesses in the Westgate?

"The closure of Botley Road and the traffic gate on Thames Street will ensure there is no risk of any customers from the west or south."

Another added: "With Thames Street and Hythe Bridge Street becoming bus gates, there will be no access to the Westgate car park. Unless our sensible council delay the bus gate introduction to alleviate the issue."

Hotelier Jeremy Mogford called for the bus gates proposal to be scrapped.

He said: "The ridiculous and unnecessary filter/bus gate proposals should be permanently scrapped because of the economic and brand damage it will do to our city.

"Given the two councils have spent an incredible half a million pounds on a few ugly wooden planters, wooden seats and tarmac in Broad Street, the mind boggles at how much money they may have allocated for filters/busgates.

"All of this money could be saved and a fraction of it spent on sensible traffic measures.

"So, we say, be brave and announce the scrapping of the bus gates. Admit it is a massive mistake and let’s move on, work together on a sensible solution."

The six 'new' bus gate locations are: St Cross Road, Thames Street, Hythe Bridge Street, St Clements, Marston Ferry Road, and Hollow Way.

The traffic filters are expected to cost £3m.

The closure of Botley Road is resulting in the demolition of Station Grill off Botley Road, so the council can create a temporary turning circle for buses.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF