The road was closed at the rail bridge on April 11, 2023, when Rishi Sunak was Prime Minister, Joe Biden was US President and the current War in Gaza had not yet begun.

On the other hand, similar to today, Arsenal were eight points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League, although in 2023 that lead was overturned.

READ MORE: Museum announces major refurb amid wider funding struggles

Initially the closure at Botley Road was only expected to last for months but several delays – including the discovery of a Victorian arch and complicated utility pipes – hindered the project.

Network Rail work in Frideswide Square (Image: Network Rail)

This latest three-year milestone means that the project has taken longer, and in some cases far longer, than some of the world’s most iconic landmarks and vessels, even if many cost more than the £237.4m spent on the Oxford scheme.

We’ve listed some of them here.

Mary Rose ship (1511) – around 18 months

King Henry’s favourite vessel was constructed between January 29, 1510 and July 1511 and served as the Tudor monarch’s flagship for 34 years.

In the 1970s, the 800-tonne behemoth which held a crew of around 500, was the subject of a major salvage mission near the Isle of Wight.

In addition, it’s worth noting that the Botley Road closure has also lasted longer than three of King Henry’s six marriages.

The Eiffel Tower (1889) – 2 years, 2 months and 5 days

The Eiffel Tower and the Seine river in Paris (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

Completed in March 1889, the 330-metre tower was constructed as the centre piece of the 1889 World’s Fair and to crown the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution.

It is now the most visited monument with an entrance fee in the world.

The Titanic (1911) – 3 years, 2 days

Slightly cheating here, but in two days this will be true and the end of the Botley Road scheme will still take months.

The largest ship in the world, at 269.1m long and 46,328 GRT (gross register tonnage), sank on its maiden voyage after being completed in 1911.

RMS Titanic leaving Southampton. Colourised image. (Image: Archive)

The Empire State Building (1931) – 1 year and 45 days

The 1,454-foot building was constructed between 1930 and 1931 and was the world’s tallest building at the time.

Despite the Wall Street Crash in October 1929, the investors decided to plough ahead with the project because of how much progress had already been made.

It officially opened on May 1, 1931.

The Empire State Building. (Image: PR)

The Space Needle (1961) – 400 days

Another landmark raised for a World’s Fair, this 138-foot tower is built to withstand winds of up to 200mph and earthquakes of up to 9.0 magnitude.

READ MORE: Almost 100-year-old Oxford pub listed for £700,000 sale

Construction began in April 1961 and the basic tower was finished by December 1961, after about eight months.

Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway (2011) – 3 years and 2 months

The high-speed railway connects the Bohai Economic Rim and the Yangtze River Delta, two major economic sites in China.

Construction began in April 2008 with the line opened to the public for commercial service in June 2011.

It remains the world’s longest high-speed line ever constructed in a single phase, at 1,318km.

The Friends of Raleigh Park will host the event in Seacourt Hall, Botley, on April 25 to commemorate the centenary of Raleigh Park being gifted to the people of Oxford.

The celebration will feature a panel of speakers discussing the history and significance of the park’s donor, Raymond Ffennell, and dedicatee, Professor Sir Walter Raleigh.

The future of the park, designated as a local wildlife site, will also be a topic of discussion.

Speakers will include historians, CEOs of preservation trusts, and representatives from various organisations.

The following day, a new centenary bench, made from historic bench supports and timber from the Great Oak, which fell in 2015, will be commissioned in the park.

From songs about scotch eggs to a youth worker belting out a comedic diss track, the likes of Glantaf Boys, Christy Coysh and Ren DMC all hoped to impress judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, KSI and Amanda Holden this evening.

But during Saturday’s show, it was World Wings who were given Amanda’s second golden buzzer (the first being Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Farmers Choir).

The dance group performed to a medley of songs including Lil Boo Thang before being showered in golden confetti.

As the auditorium roared, Amanda said World Wings’ energy was “amazing”, while Alesha described it was like a “ball of fire”.

Meanwhile, in a moment of excitement, KSI walked on stage to offer one of the dancers his iconic bandana.

Of course, World Wings were given four yeses by all judges.

Taking to X, this viewer posted: “I like them. Nice group of talented hardworking youngsters. And I love all styles of dance as an art form – even if overdone on #bgt Happy for them.”

Another put: “World Wings are certainly flying high after that audition.”

Recommended reading:

Who has been given a golden buzzer on BGT 2026 so far?

All the acts from series 19 of BGT who have been lucky enough to receive a golden buzzer at the audition stages, hoping to make it all the way to the final and be in with the chance of winning £250,000 (and a spot at the Royal Variety Performance), are:

• Australian para athlete Paul Nunnari – golden buzzer 1 pressed by Simon Cowell (February 21)
• 16-year-old magician Rafferty Coope – golden buzzer 2 pressed by KSI (February 28)
• Antigravity – golden buzzer 3 pressed by Alesha Dixon (March 7)
• The Hawkstone Farmers Choir – golden buzzer 4 pressed by Amanda Holden (March 21)
• Comedian Ted Hill – golden buzzer 5 pressed by Ant and Dec (March 28)
• Singer Matty Juniosa – golden buzzer 6 pressed by Simon Cowell (March 28)
• Braunstone Community Primary School – golden buzzer 7 pressed by guest judge Stacey Solomon (April 4)
• World Wings – golden buzzer 8 pressed by Amanda Holden (April 11)

BGT continues on Saturday, April 18 at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.