A project to build a railway bridge over Botley Road in Oxford has cost £237.4m and took more than three and a half years to complete. This total also covers wider station improvement work and a redesigned road layout.
The initial plans for the project were expected to cost £161m. The construction began in April 2023 with an initial deadline of October 2024, which was missed due to difficulties with pipes and cables under the road. An August 2026 deadline also passed.
Botley Road reopened last weekend, restoring the connection between west Oxford and the city centre. Network Rail's Wales and western region capital delivery director, Tim Walden, apologised for the disruption and frustration caused by the closure, thanking the community for their patience.
A Network Rail spokesperson attributed delays and additional costs to unexpected engineering challenges, including a major water pipe, a hidden Victorian arch, and gas leaks.