Repair works on a bridge in Oxford have been delayed and are not likely to finish until the summer of 2024. 

Oxford City Council apologised for pushing back the reopening date of the Gasworks Pipe Bridge and described the delay as "hugely frustrating."

Cllr Ed Turner, cabinet member for finance and asset management, said: “I want to apologise for the continued disruption that local residents are facing, and for the delays to the construction programme.

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"This has rightly caused much anger and frustration and the council is extremely disappointed that this situation has arisen."

The bridge, which links the Isis towpath with Friars Wharf and St Ebbe’s in Oxford city centre, was closed in March 2021 due to concerns over its safety.

The council once hoped the bridge would re-open by May this year.

It shifted its target date to September when it appointed a contractor to carry out the works earlier this year. 

But when they reviewed the proposed repair programme, the contractor concluded the bridge is too weak to support the proposed temporary scaffold structure. An alternative temporary structure is needed to allow the contractors to undertake the work. This new structure will need to sit lower to the water and take longer to erect and dismantle.

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As the temporary structure is lower, the Environment Agency (EA), which is responsible for the river, cannot allow this structure to be in place during the official boating season.

This means the works cannot start until November 2023, and are unlikely to finish until summer 2024.

The council and the contractor are working with the EA to see if this start date can be brought forward to September, where river traffic is lower, but will not have this confirmed until the works licence is issued in September.

A council spokesperson said: "It is hugely frustrating that this delay has arisen. The city council has written to our appointed technical experts, to request a senior level meeting to understand how this has happened and what further mitigations and sureties can be put in place around the programme.

"We are also working on wider mitigations on regard to the diversion routes, including better lighting during the winter months."

Cllr Turner added: “Clearly, we have to put safety first, both for the public and for the contractors working to strengthen the bridge.

"However, where the council does not have expertise in place, we seek it externally and it is disappointing that the solution recommended by our experts appears not to be workable, causing further delay in reopening the bridge."