Network Rail has closed a road close to Oxford station as work gets under way to prepare for major rail improvements.
A multi-million overhaul is planned for the rail station, which will involve the replacement of the Botley Road rail bridge.
In order to replace the rail bridge, Network Rail says it needs to shut the Botley Road completely.
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A plan to close Botley Road for a year from January 9 was abandoned and now talks are taking place between Network Rail, the county council and the Department for Transport to hammer out a timetable for the closure.
It has been indicated that the closure could be split into two parts - with the road closed for some months this year and some months next year but this has not yet been confirmed.
Yesterday Network Rail closed Becket Street at the Frideswide Square junction so that work to locate utility cables could be carried out over the next fortnight.
Access to Becket Street will remain open from Oxpens Road, so that drivers can still use the station's long-stay car park.
Work for the major project includes re-routing utility cables, replacing the Botley Road rail bridge, and starting to build a new western entrance to the station.
City and county councillor Susanna Pressel was told that a possible or likely scenario was for the road to be closed from March to August/September 2023, then for four to six months in the middle of 2024.
The rail bridge would be replaced during this time in 2024.
David Paull, a spokesman for Network Rail and contractors Kier said earlier the closure timetable was still being finalised.
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He added: "Discussions will take place between Network Rail, the county council and the Department for Transport in the next couple of weeks.
"When the decision comes we will give people plenty of notice - we are conscious of the fact we had a false start.
"We need to make sure we get this right, giving people enough time and enough notice."
Mr Paull said work was about to get under way to demolish Station Grill, formerly Mick's Cafe, and the building behind it, which once housed a law office.
This is designed to create enough space for the provision of a turning circle for buses.
The turning circle will be needed once Botley Road is shut as buses will not be able to travel under the rail bridge.
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Once Station Grill and the former solicitors' office have been demolished, work could start on the demolition of the youth hostel, so that a new western entrance to the station can be created.
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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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