Anger as Oxford footbridge closure causes one-mile detour

The Cottesmore footbridge, which is used by pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy A4142 Easter Bypass near the Heyford Hill roundabout, has been shut by Oxfordshire County Council on safety grounds.

Cuttesmore footbridge highlighted in red on Google Maps (Image: Google Maps)

The closure has caused disruption for residents in Rose Hill and Littlemore, who have been cut off from each other.

The safest route they now face will take them on a 23-minute, one-mile diversion.

The route they will take from the Rose Hill side is as follows: Cottesmore Road to Asquith Road to a cycle path to Oxford Road to Sandford road to Railway Lane to Chapel Lane and Thompson Terrace.

Detour pedestrians and cyclists face because of the Cottesmore footbridge closure (Image: Google Maps)

READ MORE: Footbridge across A4142 closes for safety concerns

Sushila Dhall, chair of the Oxford Pedestrians Association, said the alternative route poses serious challenges.

She said: “While we understand the temporary closure is essential given the work needed to make it safe, we are highly concerned about the significant risk and inconvenience of the diversions, especially having to wait next to fast, noisy traffic to cross three sets of traffic lights at Heyford Hill.”

She warned the closure must not drag on, urging the council to prioritise repairs for pedestrians and cyclists.

She added: “If this was a road carrying motorised traffic, the bridge would be closed for as short a time as possible.

Cuttesmore footbridge is used by pedestrians and cyclists to cross the A4142 Eastern Bypass near the Heyford Hill roundabout (Image: Google Maps)

“We must not repeat the three-year closure of the Gasworks Pipe Bridge. Pedestrians and cyclists are at the top of the road users’ hierarchy and these repairs need to take place as fast as possible.”

Cycling campaign group Cyclox echoed the concerns, stressing the importance of the bridge in linking communities separated by the busy ring road.

Thalia Carr, Cyclox campaigns and communications lead, said the council must “act swiftly”.

She said: “To avoid discrimination, the County Council must repair the bridge with the same amount of urgency and commitment of funds as would be applied to a closed road bridge.

“They should value both car drivers and those walking and cycling equally, recognising that some who walk and cycle may have no access to alternative means of transport.”

Oxfordshire County Council has said the bridge was closed following structural safety concerns and that further assessments are under way.

A council spokesperson said: “Once it was determined that the structure was no longer safe following a risk review in April, it was closed. Inspectors explored options to keep the bridge open, but these were not considered practical.”

They added: “We need to consider all options available to reinstate this crucial link in the city’s active travel network, for the benefit of local communities and people travelling further afield.

“However, it is not possible to give any timescales at this stage or details on funding.”