Demolition work is about to start in advance of Network Rail's rail station improvements - which will shut the Botley Road for a whole year.
The multi-million scheme to provide a new western entrance to the station, a new Botley Road rail bridge, and other upgrades, has been delayed for years.
But work is about to get under way and a building behind Station Grill will be demolished from Monday.
READ AGAIN: What we know about Botley Road closure
The demolition of Station Grill itself, formerly Mick's Cafe, and the youth hostel building on the corner of Roger Dudman Way, is expected to take place in January.
Network Rail originally announced the road would be closed for 14 weeks but that plan changed and now it is expected that the road will be closed at the rail bridge from January 9.
Only emergency vehicles will have access and no other traffic will be allowed through in either direction.
Vehicles will, however, be allowed along Botley Road to use shops and businesses.
But they will not be able to drive through to Frideswide Square from Botley Road, or from Frideswide Square towards Botley Road.
READ MORE: Botley Road youth hostel will be demolished
So far, Network Rail have said the 12-month closure period will cover the demolition of Station Grill and the youth hostel, the rerouting of utility cables, the replacement of the rail bridge, and the start of construction of the new western entrance of the station.
Using temporary traffic lights with single-lane traffic, which has been tried in the past and would avoid the closure, has been ruled out.
Residents have formed a group called West Oxford Access to lobby Network Rail and the county council during the closure.
Spokesman Julian Le Vay said: "We are meeting the council on Wednesday.
"We want to make sure emergency vehicles will not be delayed and will have proper access.
"A turning circle for buses is needed and demolition work to create space has not yet started.
"Will taxis now agree to come into west Oxford and what will the cost be - there are lots of issues to be discussed, including a cut in buinsess rates for local businesses."
While it might not take long to demolish Station Grill and the former legal offices behind it, the demolition of the youth hostel will take much longer.
In an earlier letter to residents and businesses, David Paull, of Network Rail, said: "Under our original proposal, we would have been working on the road for 18 months, which would have seen the majority of work done with a single lane closed and several short periods of full closures.
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"As it is well known in Oxford, a long period of a single lane operation on Botley Road can cause significant traffic disruption. It would also have severely disrupted bus services in the area.
"Therefore we have been asked by Oxfordshire County Council to look at if we could finish quicker by working with a full road closure and we concluded that the time required could be reduced by six months."
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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
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