<\/p>\n
\n The northern walkway and cycleway running along Botley Road will open on Sunday, September 20 after Network Rail were unsure it would open on time.\n<\/p>\n
\n The southern walkway to the road has been open for pedestrians and cyclists walking between Botley and the city centre for months while the northern walkway has restoration.\n<\/p>\n
\n Now Oxfordshire Connect, Network Rail’s Oxfordshire branch, have confirmed both walkways and cycle ways will be in operation when Botley Road reopens to traffic.\n<\/p>\n
\n The company said they were “pleased” to announce the opening of the walkway after some doubts were cast.\n<\/p>\n
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\n The walkway linking Botley Road and Frideswide Square (Image: Andy Ffrench)\n<\/p>\n
\n On Tuesday the company confirmed that Botley Road would definitely reopen but said: “We are working to have both new walkways open to coincide with the road reopening and will confirm whether the northern walkway will be able to open at the same time later this week.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Pedestrians will be able to travel both directions on the northern and southern walkway, whilst cyclists will have to move in one-way.\n<\/p>\n
\n Cyclists on the northern walkway will have to cycle eastbound into the city, whilst cyclists on the southern walkway will have to travel westbound down into Botley.\n<\/p>\n
\n The new walkways have experienced improvement with paved walkways and tarmacked.\n<\/p>\n
\n Botley road was shut at the rail bridge in April 2023 for work linked to a major upgrade of Oxford rail station, and was previously due to reopen on August 31 this year.\n<\/p>\n
\n There have been numerous delays throughout the project and the cost of the work so far has risen from an estimated \u00a3161m to about \u00a3237m, with Oxford West and Abingdon MP referring the scheme to the National Audit Office.\n<\/p>\n
\n Despite the highly anticipated reopening, Network Rail has also still not released a timetable for work on a proposed new western entrance to the station, or details of funding.\n<\/p>\n
\n Roadworks in Botley Road (Image: Frank Dumbleton)\n<\/p>\n
\n Rail industry expert Paul Clifton, a former BBC transport correspondent for 30 years and a regular contributor to Rail Magazine, said funding for the western entrance was in doubt due to financial pressures on the rail network as a whole – largely caused by the financial demands of HS2.\n<\/p>\n
\n Councillor Anna Railton, who got a sneak peek at the road last weekend, said: “It\u2019s clearly taken far too long and with years of disruption for residents and businesses but I\u2019m super pleased that the Botley Road is reopening to traffic next weekend.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “It\u2019s not just about the road, it\u2019s coming with better walking and cycling provision, better bus provision since we can get standard double-deckers under there now and soon better train provision too.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
#Walkway #confirmed #open #Botley #Road #doubts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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