One week until Network Rail's Botley Road closure in Oxford

Network Rail has not yet explained precisely how the closure will operate but it is scheduled to start the day after Bank Holiday Monday.

All traffic including emergency services vehicles will not be able to pass under the rail bridge in either direction, forcing extra traffic onto the ring road and other routes.

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Network Rail and the county council have announced that the road will be closed at the rail bridge from April 11 so a £161m improvement scheme for Oxford station can go ahead.

Work includes rerouting utility cables, creating a new western entrance for the station and replacing the rail bridge.

READ AGAIN: New date revealed for Botley Road closure 

As a result, the road will be closed from Tuesday, April 11 until October, and also for a similar period next year.

Buses run by both Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach are affected by the closure, and a turning circle for buses is being created close to the Roger Dudman Way junction.

Oxford Bus Company said: "The following services will be affected by the bridge closure: BROOKESbus400/U1, city3B, city4A, connector 33 and Thames Travel 63/63S."

The BROOKESbusU1/400 will be unable to operate as a through service from Harcourt Hill to Wheatley. 

As a result, the BROOKESbus service will need to implement a temporary revised timetable during this period.

Services will be split at Oxford station, where passengers will need to walk (approx. 5 mins) to the other side of the rail bridge where buses will continue along the 400 and NU1 routes.

city3B

Due to the Botley Road closure, OBC needs to implement a revised route and timetable for the 3B.

The morning trip will now depart from Rose Hill 10 minutes earlier than at present, and travel along the normal line of route to the City Centre, then via Abingdon Road and A34 Southern Bypass to Matthew Arnold School.

The afternoon trip will operate via A34 Southern Bypass and Abingdon Road to Oxford City Centre, where the current route will resume to Rose Hill.

city4A

For the duration of the road closure, city4A OBC be unable to run into the City Centre, and will start and finish at the Osney Island bus stops on Botley Road.

These are the closest pair of bus stops to the west of Oxford Rail Station that we will be permitted to serve, and passengers will need to walk to the other side of the rail bridge for onward buses to Oxford City Centre departing from Oxford Rail Station. 

connector 23 & 33

For the duration of the road closure, connector 33 OBC be unable to run into Oxford City Centre, and will start and finish at the Osney Island bus stops on Botley Road.

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These are the closest pair of bus stops to the west of Oxford Rail Station that we will be permitted to serve, and passengers will need to walk to the other side of the rail bridge for onward buses to Oxford City Centre departing from Oxford Rail Station.

Stagecoach said: "While we will still be able to access Botley Road, we will not be able to take a bus beyond Botley Road to or from Frideswide Square (outside Oxford Rail Station) and Oxford City Centre from the Western side of the city.

Pedestrian and cycle access through the closure points is planned to be maintained throughout, although the specific route through may change.

"The closure will affect Stagecoach services S1, S2, S6 and S9.

"We have worked closely with Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council to ensure we can maintain connections to Oxford city centre where possible and minimise disruption for our passengers."

For more details visit stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/oxfordshire/botley-road-closure

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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