The scheduled reopening of Botley Road in central Oxford has been postponed after gas leaks were discovered during recent excavation work. The road has been closed since April 2023 while work for the £161 million upgrade of Oxford Railway Station is carried out.
New work to address gas leaks
Network Rail said the leaks were found while teams were working beneath the road and, to avoid future disruptive repairs, it has agreed that gas distributor SGN should replace a section of its network under Botley Road. The additional works are expected to take “around four to six weeks”, Network Rail said, and the reopening date that had been planned for the end of August will not be met.
“We know this news will be deeply disappointing for residents, businesses and everyone who relies on Botley Road, and we're very sorry for the continued disruption and uncertainty this will cause.”
The delay is the latest in a series of setbacks for the wider station project, which had originally been due for completion in October 2024. Previous problems have included archaeological discoveries and the unearthing of a Second World War grenade.
Local consequences and knock‑on effects
Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to replace a temporary congestion charge with traffic filters were due to be implemented to coincide with the road’s reopening. Those plans will now be pushed back while Network Rail and SGN confirm a revised timetable.
- Botley Road: closed since April 2023 for station upgrade work
- Project value: £161m (Oxford Railway Station upgrade)
- New delay: additional work estimated at four to six weeks
Network Rail said it was working closely with SGN to agree a new reopening date and pledged to keep the community informed with regular updates. In its statement, the company apologised to residents and businesses who have previously described the extended closure as cutting them off from other parts of the city.
Timeline at a glance
| Event | Date / status |
|---|---|
| Road closed | April 2023 |
| Original project completion target | October 2024 |
| Planned reopening (most recent) | End of August (2026) |
| Additional work caused by gas leaks | Estimated 4–6 weeks (from July 2026) |
For residents and business owners in west Oxford the delay will prolong altered travel routes, deliveries and customer access. The extension also sustains uncertainty over when the council can move from temporary congestion measures to longer‑term filter arrangements intended to reduce traffic through the city centre.
Network Rail has said its teams, together with SGN, are aiming to minimise further disruption while completing the necessary safety‑critical repairs and will confirm timings as soon as possible.
