Bridge reopening date set five years after boat crash

The reopening of a road bridge over the River Thames has been delayed, five years after a boat struck a water main underneath the structure.

Thames Water, which is leading the project to repair Osney Bridge in Oxford, had initially planned to complete its repairs by 28 August.

The water firm extended this deadline by two weeks last month, but now says "structural complications" meant it would aim to have the bridge ready to reopen in time for 20 September.

This would coincide with the planned reopening of Network Rail's nearby Botley Road closure - a project similarly beset by delays.

Osney Bridge was first damaged in April 2021 when an Environment Agency boat struck a water main underneath it.

Following the damage a temporary pipe was installed to maintain water supply, but structural issues with part of the bridge's footpath caused delays to the permanent fix, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A lane, cycle path and pavement closure is currently in place on the bridge's north side whilst the works are undertaken.

Thames Water said it was "working with Oxfordshire County Council to keep the lane closure on Osney Bridge, which is part of the Botley Road, until 18 September".

This was to ensure "traffic will flow freely again from 20 September, when Network Rail reopens Botley Road", the firm added.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "Due to structural complications that were identified on Osney Bridge, Thames Water was required to revise its designs to ensure the trunk mains could be replaced safely, while complying with the bridge's structural requirements and avoiding any damage."

Overnight closures, from 20:00 to 06:00 BST, would then begin on the bridge for about three to four weeks "if everything goes as planned".

In a social media post criticising the latest delay, campaign group Reconnecting Oxford said: "Thames Water were supposed to have finished work on the Botley Road yesterday [28 August]."

"This clearly hasn't happened."