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Further delays in Oxford in the Botley Road at the station

Posted by (Arctophilia (was 26, now x-27), Northamptonshire, England) on

It has been announced that the reopening of the Botley Road - key to obtaining rental cars in Oxford at the station - will not happen at the end of August as was promised in January 2025 after previous delays.

There are further issues that will set back the opening at least a further 4 to 6 weeks. This is because 3 leaks in a gas line were discovered coincidentally with the bridge works, and that gas line now needs to be replaced.

A pedestrian walkway on the south side of the road under the bridge opened last week. This connection between the two parts of the severed road helps pedestrians, but there is no vehicle traffic.

We will see how accurate this new estimate proves, in the fullness of time.

Posted by
1 posts

I was afraid there would be more delays. We are picking up our rental in September from 53 West Way Botley. Will we be able to walk or take a bus from the train station or should we try another alternative? We will be heading to Stow.
Thank you for keeping everyone up to date.

Posted by
5660 posts

We are picking up our rental in September from 53 West Way Botley. Will we be able to walk or take a bus from the train station or should we try another alternative?

You can walk for about 5 minutes west of the road block where there are stops for a large number of buses along the Botley Road. For 53 West Way you would need to get off at the stop for "Minns Industrial Estate" (A McDonald's is on the corner) and walk around. The most frequent buses are the 4A/B, E1, S6, & S9 but there are others.

You can walk it in around 25-30 minutes total but maybe not convenient with lot of bags.

Note that they do not allow taxis etc to pick up in the area as it is congested enough with the buses turning round.

Posted by
2425 posts

Last June I parked my car at Seacourt P+R along Botley Road, but the bus to the city centre couldn’t go further than the Osney Bridge. So had to walk further for going to Broad Street. It look that there was still a lot of work to do.

The Osney Island bus stop is close to Osney Bridge and usually an easy walk from the train station. If your luggage is not to difficult to handle, it must be doable to my opinion.

Posted by
134 posts

I am normally a staunch defender of this country, particularly the unusual fixation with London suddenly being unsafe etc

However these works are an embarrassment and Oxford being one of the jewels in the crown should never put up with a main thoroughfare being out of action as it has for so long

Posted by
2425 posts

I walked with someone I met on the bus, who worked in the city centre. He was not only annoyed as he had to pass this place twice every day, but embarrased too. He couldn’t believe becoming such a headache project, whatever the reason.

Nevertheless Oxford remains a lovely and interesting place to visit and certainly will do this again if being in the neighbourhood.

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