HGV access into Oxford centre could be blocked by bridge

Oxfordshire County Council has launched a public consultation for proposed height restrictions on the new bridge at Botley Road.

The plans also include scrapping parking spaces in Cripley Road in favour of ‘no waiting at any time’ prohibitions.

As reported last month, vehicles more than 4.4m tall will no longer be able to go through the new Botley Road bridge once the road finally reopens this August.

An artist’s impression of how the new bridge could look (Image: Network Rail)

The new rail bridge in Botley Road Oxford (Image: Andy Ffrench)

It means that double decker trailers attached to the back of some lorries will not be able to access the city from Botley Road due to the height of the trailers reaching 4.95m.

However, all buses used in Oxfordshire including the double deckers will be able to drive under the bridge and be exempt from the restrictions.

Oxfordshire County Council says in its consultation that by introducing the height restrictions, it would help to ensure potential incidents of tall vehicles hitting the bridge are “minimised” which would then keep the flow of traffic.

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It adds that the reason to remove the shared use and permit holder only parking spaces in Cripley Road is as a result of carriageway re-alignment works and access to the station.

Spaces on the west side of Cripley Road would be lost in favour of ‘no waiting at any time’ restrictions.

Cripley Road parking suspension (Image: Matt Simpson)

“The council continues to consider the provision of suitable and adequate parking and to facilitating the expeditious, convenient, and safe movement of vehicles and other traffic, access to travel facilities and in particular to manage the demand between retail, residential parking and commercial access for vehicles servicing the station,” a spokesperson for the council added.

A Network Rail spokesman said earlier that the new bridge has been built to county council specifications at 4.4m high, “which is suitable for the vast majority of vehicles on the road”.

But city and county councillor Susanna Pressel warned: “That means we may again get large vehicles stuck underneath it and/or forced to turn around in Mill Street or Abbey Road.”

In the UK, standard minimum clearance for bridges is 5.03m, but lower restrictions such as the new Botley rail bridge are common.

The previous bridge in Botley Road was signed at 4m tall and the council said this was a problem for some buses.

Oxfordshire County Council’s public consultation on the parking removal and height restrictions in the Botley Road area is open until June 5.

Newly appointed cabinet member for transport Rebekah Fletcher will have the final say on the decision at a scheduled meeting later that month.