'Mixed feelings' on latest Botley Road reopening delay
BBCResidents have expressed "mixed feelings" by the announcement of yet another delay to the reopening of a major traffic route in the centre of Oxford.
On Wednesday evening, Network Rail apologised that Botley Road would not reopen to traffic on 31 August as originally planned, due to three uncovered gas leaks on part of gas network owned by SGN during recent excavation. The pipe was not damaged by the Network Rail work, it added.
MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran called the delay "catastrophic" and said she was demanding "a full explanation from the Secretary of State".
Network Rail project manager Giles Clark said a new date for the reopening would be announced on Wednesday.
The scheme has been faced with issues and residents' complaints.
Network Rail said the latest estimate for the Oxford Phase 2 project, including the works associated with Botley Road, was now £237.4m, which "includes some of the costs associated with the fifth platform and construction of the western entrance".
On 17 July, the southern walkway opened, running from Frideswide Square to the Westgate Hotel, and in the 1 July edition of Oxfordshire Connect Newsletter Network Rail said it was still on track for the projected reopening.
"I am worried about it getting quite a lot busier when it reopens, so I think I have mixed feelings towards it," one resident said.
"But it's a huge issue for disabled people, there's nowhere to stop on the way."
A woman who uses the S9 bus to Wantage to care for her parents said she had been "very excited" about the projected reopening, while another resident said it was "really disappointing but also not that surprising".
"It should have finished earlier but I do understand and accept that there were surprises when they started digging down," resident David said.
Another man said that no one "gets their heads together to work out a plan" for potential problems.
At every monthly progress meeting previously, Moran was assured that the project was on track to open in August.
"I am demanding a full explanation from the Secretary of State as to why these issues were not identified earlier, when those responsible first became aware of them, and why assurances about reopening have once again proven unreliable?" she said.
Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) cabinet member for transport, said he hoped the delay would add to "a huge investigation" about the project as a whole.
He added he was "grateful" that the notice had been issued now rather than in a month's time but it was "hugely disruptive".
OCC said in a statement that the traffic filter trial "will only begin after Botley Road has reopened".
Network Rail's Clark said the delay was "hugely disappointing".
"This section of asset wasn't identified as an asset that needed to be replaced, but having had a series of minor gas leaks on and around sites, the right decision was to work with [SGN] at this moment to have this section replaced.
"We continue to explore on a daily basis opportunities and options we can do to either accelerate works, bring works forward or open up more of the highway or pathway for local residents and users of Botley Road."
