Botley Road in Oxford reopened to traffic this morning, reconnecting west Oxford with the city centre and marking a major milestone in the transformation of Oxford station.
Motorists, bus passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians can now once again use the route following work to install a new railway bridge and create a redesigned road layout next to the station.
The reopening also coincides with improvements to local bus services introduced by Oxfordshire operators.
The road has been closed beneath the railway bridge since April 2023 while Network Rail and its partners carried out major work to expand Oxford station and lay the foundations for more rail services and better connections across the region.
The new road layout provides better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, restores bus access through Botley Road and supports plans for further rail improvements in and around Oxford, including East West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes and a scheme to reopen the Cowley Branch Line.
The reopening had been due to take place earlier in the summer but was pushed back to allow for urgent utility works, with the replacement of a section of the gas network beneath Botley Road. While the additional work delayed the reopening, completing it at the time avoided the need for future disruption and helped ensure the long-term resilience of local infrastructure.
Tim Walden, Network Rail’s Wales & Western region Capital Delivery Director, said: “Today is an important day for Oxford. We know the closure of Botley Road has had a significant impact on residents, businesses and everyone who relies on this route, and we are sorry for the disruption and frustration it has caused.
“Reopening the road is a major milestone, and I’d like to thank the local community for their patience while this complex programme of work has been carried out.
“The work completed here will create a better-connected station, support future growth on the railway and enable people to once again travel directly through Botley Road.”
The closure formed part of the wider Oxford station and area upgrade programme, which will increase capacity at one of the country’s busiest rail junctions and help unlock further improvements to rail services across Oxfordshire and beyond.
The project encountered significant engineering and utilities challenges following the start of construction in 2023, including the discovery of a Victorian brick arch beneath the road which was not identified in existing surveys or records, as well as complex utility diversions involving existing drainage and water infrastructure.
In January 2025, Network Rail announced a revised programme that prioritised reopening Botley Road to traffic. Work remained on schedule to meet the August 2026 target until a section of gas pipe was uncovered during excavation work in July which required urgent replacement because of its location directly beneath the road.
Image credit: Network Rail
