Network Rail has announced a fresh closure for a stretch of Botley Road in Oxford so that new trial holes can be dug near the rail station.
The road has been closed at the rail bridge since April last year as part of a £161m scheme to revamp the station.
In July, Network Rail announced the road will not reopen as planned at the end of October, and a series of options for the scheme are now being investigated in a review - including postponing the work.
READ MORE: Oxford Botley Road closure: apology and update
Earlier this month transport minister Lord Hendy, of the Department for Transport, wrote to council leaders to say he was "acutely aware" of the disruption the closure is causing.
Now the rail authority is planning a "closure within the closure" as it needs to dig trial holes to see if a water main connection point can be moved, and this will lead to vehicles being diverted.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The next stage of works for our Oxfordshire Connect project focuses on the diversion of the Thames Water mains water and sewer which run below the railway bridge and serve thousands of properties in Oxford.
"The trial holes are needed to allow Thames Water to establish the viability of moving its water main connection point further west along Botley Road towards Osney bridge.
“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience and thank residents and the wider community for their understanding as we carry out these vital works.
"We are committed to delivering this project which will bring significant benefits to Oxfordshire.”
Julian Le Vay, of residents' group West Oxford Access, said the work would lead to vehicles including buses being diverted.
He said: "I have received a letter saying they're going to send all Botley Road traffic - buses, trucks the lot - down Abbey and Cripley roads - quiet residential streets not suited for heaving traffic. Fumes, noise at all hours. No parking places.
"What about my wife, she has trouble walking. So we can't get her to our car?
"Network Rail is totally out of control. Each week they improvise a new outrage. None of this was planned. Where is the county council?"
Network Rail has not yet said when the review will be completed, or when Botley Road is likely to reopen at the rail bridge.
The Oxford Mail asked Network Rail a series of questions about the overspend on the project and its timetable in a Freedom of Information request but the company asked for more time and has not yet responded.
Oxfordshire County Council has been conducting separate resurfacing work on Botley Road this week as well.
This has been taking place near the Waitrose store with traffic able to pass via a traffic lights system.
The county council stated this is part of the authority's countywide scheme.
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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.
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