Work on a major new road junction has been delayed again - by the discovery of contaminated soil, writes Matt Childe.

Construction of a new road lay-out, outside Oxford Railway Station in Park End Street, has had motorists and pedestrians fuming since January.

The work, which is central to the Oxford Transport Strategy, was originally due to be completed in April - but was put back until the end of May after delays in dismantling the listed former LMS railway station building.

Now contractors are fighting to recoup more lost time after soil on the former station site was found to be contaminated with phosphates. The pollution is believed to have come from clinker scraped from engine furnaces back in the days of steam.

Soil in the area has had to be tested and contaminated areas removed in special skips.

Keith Welham, chief engineer for Oxfordshire County Council, said the problem had delayed work at the site by one to two weeks. But he said it was still possible that the road work, which involves re-aligning Park End Street with Hythe Bridge Street, could be completed in time - and would not delay the overall pedestrianisation scheme, due to come into force at the end of the month.

"The contractors are really working hard to catch up," he said.

Hythe Bridge Street is due to change from one-way to two-way and Park End Street will become a bus priority route. The changes are part of plans to pedestrianise Cornmarket and part of Broad Street, and close High Street during the day.

Story date: Thursday 13 May

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