Oxford A4142 footbridge closed for safety, could stay up

Long-diverted commuters will be able to have their say over the future of the Cottesmore footbridge as an “information event” will be held on Friday July 31.

The update comes two months after the crossing over the A4142 Eastern Bypass was closed, leading to major long-term detours for schoolchildren and frequent complaints from residents.

Inspectors at Oxfordshire County Council closed the footbridge due to safety concerns with the structure.

It said its top priority is public safety, which it “will not compromise”.

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Cottesmore footbridge (Image: Google Maps)

Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, county council cabinet member for transport management, said at the time : “The decision to close the bridge has not been taken lightly, but it was the only option in the circumstances.”

Councillor Ed Turner has said the bridge could be strengthened rather than rebuilt – a potential shot in the arm for locals who have feared the bridge would not be open for several years.

There are signs that strengthening the bridge may be an option, but the structural engineering report is not yet through.

A statement from the deputy leader of Oxford City Council Ed Turner explained other measures are also being put in place to improve the situation for cyclists and walkers.

He said: “The cycle track foliage has been cut back and does look better.

“County council officers are liaising with Sainsbury’s about trying to make the pedestrian / cycle route in from the traffic lights safer.”

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David Henwood, shadow councillor for transport in Oxfordshire County Council, has publicly backed demolition of the Cottesmore footbridge, saying it is the “correct course of action”. (Image: Oxford Mail)

According to councillor Turner, “we now have under four months left and aren’t really further forward.”

A session designed to provide information to parents and regular users of the Cottesmore Road bridge is to be held on Friday, July 31, from 1pm until 5pm at the Littlemore Community Centre in Giles Road.

The footbridge is located between Sainsbury’s and Rose Hill, and links Cottesmore Road and Brocklesbury Road on either side of the busy road.

A 23-minute, one-mile diversion is now in place while engineers assess its options to fix the wobbly bridge, which is not expected to reopen until November 2027.

A petition started last month calling for certainty over the future of the bridge in Oxford.

In the petition, Oxford City Council deputy leader Ed Turner has called on his county council counterparts to commit to repairing or replacing the bridge.

Mr Turner also called on the council to ensure the alternative route is safe in the meantime by cutting down hedges, reviewing bus services, adding lighting and reviewing the safety of the pedestrian crossing and the pavement.