Traffic diversions are being planned in Frideswide Square in Oxford as Network Rail continues its £161m scheme to upgrade the city's rail station.

Botley Road has been closed at the rail bridge for over a year as the rail authority is replacing the rail bridge and re-routing pipes and utility cables to prepare for a new western entrance to the station.

Pedestrians have to use a narrow walkway to get past the ongoing works at the bridge.

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For months, residents have been kept awake at night by noisy piling work but that is nearing completion.

Next a water main will be laid in Frideswide Square, which will require traffic to be diverted.

A spokesman for Network Rail said in a newsletter to residents: "Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working on the nine connection trenches (five on the western side of bridge, four on the east) for the new utility pipes and cables to run under the bridge area.

"We know how disruptive this has been, especially with noise. 

"Deep below the bridge area the ground is made of Oxford clay, which is well known for making ground conditions challenging for piling.

"Originally, we planned to do the less noisy drilling work at night and the piling during the day. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the Oxford Clay (especially when wet) it quickly expands meaning the holes seal over again, resulting in the work taking longer."

(Image: Oxford Mail) The spokesman added that work to install the pipework for the new water main is now due to start on Monday, June 24.

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A diversion is required as contractors need to use the southern (westbound) lane of Frideswide Square as an area for assembling and welding the 100m long pipe.

About 1m wide, it then needs to be inserted into the concrete sleeve which has been installed under the road below the rail bridge.

From June 24, there will be no access into Frideswide Square for vehicles from the Hollybush Row/Park End Street roundabout.

Instead, access to Frideswide Square and station will be via Park End Street, Worcester Street and along Hythe Bridge Street. 

There will only be a single lane open through Frideswide Square which will be managed by temporary traffic lights.

(Image: Oxford Mail) Ahead of the diversion, the cycle lane between Worcester Street/George Street and Hythe Bridge Street will be closed.

The Botley Road is scheduled to reopen at the rail bridge on October 24, in advance of six new camera-enforced traffic filters being launched across the city.

Some residents are fed up waiting for the work to be completed.

Newspaper columnist Peter Hitchens said: "The work has for many months created a kind of 'Checkpoint Botley', cutting off the centre of the city from its west."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.