A shop owner in Oxford is looking forward to Network Rail finishing a new pedestrian path alongside the Botley Road rail bridge.

Network Rail closed the road at the bridge in April 2023 as part of a £237m project to upgrade the railway station.

Since that time, various temporary routes have linked Botley Road to Frideswide Square, and customers have occasionally been steered away from the southern part of the square where shops and restaurants are situated.

Amanda Suliman-Bell, who runs the Rainbow & Spoon gift shop in the square, expressed pleased to hear that the new southern walkway would open in July, before the road fully reopens to traffic at the end of August.

She conveyed feeling relieved that the southern route would be accessible in July, noting that customer numbers had been low since the most recent pedestrian diversion was introduced last year. While some useful signage had been installed in the square to guide people to the shops, it still had not been enough.

During the road closure, pedestrians have used a series of temporary routes, with an early version becoming known as the tunnel of doom.

The walkway on the southern side of the road near the Westgate Hotel will open as planned, but the northern route may not be completed in time.

A Network Rail spokesperson confirmed the southern walkway was expected to open in mid-July.

Rainbow & Spoon, a fashion boutique selling women’s clothing, jewellery and accessories, has been trading in the city for over 35 years.

It previously survived building work for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Frideswide Square in 2015 and the Covid lockdown period.

In 2024, Ms Suliman-Bell reported that visitor numbers had fallen by roughly 90 percent after a walkway was redirected, pushing pedestrians away from her store and other businesses.

Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel commented that the opening of the southern walkway would be welcomed by all the businesses in Frideswide Square, who had significantly missed the steady stream of customers they used to receive. She noted it would also be much better for most walkers and cyclists, who would have a shorter distance to cover.

Ms Pressel mentioned she had expected the southern walkway to open in June but issues with installing lighting pushed the project back.

She said Network Rail had told her the northern walkway might not be finished when the road reopens at the end of August. If that happened, a few extra days would be needed until both walkways were functioning.

It emerged this week that some large vehicles would not be able to fit underneath the new rail bridge, which was put in place during an eight-day period in February while the railway line was closed.