Network Rail has announced plans to remove a pedestrian footbridge leading to Oxford station.

The footbridge over Botley Road links the station entrance with the pavement on the opposite side of the road.

Work is expected to take place next weekend to remove it as part of the ongoing £161m Oxford station improvement scheme.

READ MORE: Botley Road project will close for 17 days 

Botley Road has been closed at the rail bridge since last April and no date has been given for when the road will reopen.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Next weekend, we'll be removing the footbridge over Botley Road from outside the station as work begins to prepare the area for replacing the rail bridge.

"This is scheduled to happen overnight between Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December.

"It means the footbridge will be closed from 10am on Friday 6 December.

A crane will be used to lift the footbridge out, which will be set up in Becket Street car park. Due to its proximity to the rail line, this can only take place after 1am when trains have stopped running."

(Image: Ed Nix) When contractors are working above the walkway that runs under the rail bridge there will be short periods when they need to close the walkway to ensure the safety of the public.

READ MORE: Family asleep while fire starts in dishwasher 

These short closures will take place sporadically between 10pm on the Saturday and 8am on the Sunday. The walkway will not be closed for the entire duration.

Marshals will be present to manage the area and direct people via the Osney Lane footbridge as an alternative route during these closures.

For those who need assistance, there will be a transport service available from Becket Street and Mill Street which will run throughout that night shift, between 10pm and 8am.

With the footbridge removed, the new walking route between the station and Becket Street car park is across Frideswide Square.

Network Rail has not yet said when the footbridge will be replaced.

Work to remove the footbridge will take place before contractors Kier stop work over the Christmas period.

No work will be carried out between December 20 and January 6, Network Rail has said.

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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.

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