Construction has officially started on a new pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Grandpont with Oxpens and Oxford city centre, although riverside paths will remain disrupted while the work continues into 2027.
The Oxpens River Bridge will cross the Thames behind Oxford Ice Rink, creating a new traffic-free route between Oxpens Meadow on the north bank and Grandpont Nature Park on the south.
Jackson Civil Engineering has prepared the construction compound, installed tree-protection fencing and removed and stored topsoil so it can be reused when the site is restored.
Work is now moving towards the piled foundations that will support the bridge.
At a glance
| Project | Oxpens River Bridge |
| Location | Across the Thames between Oxpens Meadow and Grandpont Nature Park, behind Oxford Ice Rink |
| Who will use it? | Pedestrians, cyclists and other users of the shared, step-free route |
| Bridge length | Approximately 100 metres, including a 37.5-metre main river span |
| Shared route width | 3.5 metres |
| Pedestrian and cycle segregation | No. The bridge and connecting paths will be unsegregated shared-use space |
| Lighting | No lighting when the bridge first opens, although it can be retrofitted later |
| Approved project budget | £14 million |
| Contractor | Jackson Civil Engineering |
| Expected completion | During 2027; no exact opening date has been published |
| Path reopening | Affected routes are currently expected to reopen in spring 2027 |
| Live updates | Visit the Oxford City Council project page |
What is being built?
The new crossing will form part of a wider walking and cycling route between South Oxford, Osney Mead, Oxpens, the railway station and the city centre.
It will be around 100 metres long in total, with a 37.5-metre central span crossing the Thames.
The bridge has been designed by Knight Architects as a visually lightweight steel structure. Its supporting frame will form two wave-shaped elements intended to frame views along the river and reduce the visual impact across the meadow.
The deck and connecting paths will be 3.5 metres wide and shared by people walking and cycling.
Separate lanes will not be provided.
Oxford City Council says a wider segregated crossing would require more material, have a greater environmental and visual impact and could encourage higher cycling speeds.
The bridge will remain open to everyone using the shared space, and cyclists will be expected to travel at an appropriate speed around pedestrians, families and other visitors.
A step-free crossing, but no lighting at first
The approaches are being built with shallow gradients to create a step-free route suitable for a wide range of users.
The bridge will connect close to the upper path in Grandpont Nature Park rather than dropping directly onto the lower riverside towpath.
On the Oxpens side, part of the approach will be raised to provide a dry route during periods when the meadow is affected by flooding.
The crossing will not be lit when it first opens.
The council says consultation produced divided views about lighting. Some respondents felt it would make the route feel safer during winter evenings, while others raised concerns about the effect on bats and wildlife beside the Thames.
The structure will be capable of having lighting fitted later if a future decision is made to provide it.
What users should expect when the bridge opens
Shared space: Pedestrians and cyclists will use the same 3.5-metre-wide route.
No motor traffic: The bridge is being built for walking and cycling, not cars or other ordinary motor vehicles.
Step-free approaches: The gradients have been designed to meet accessibility requirements.
No initial lighting: Anyone using the route after dark will pass through an unlit riverside and nature-park setting.
Flood resilience: The northern approach will be raised, although some surrounding riverside routes can still be affected by flooding.
Which paths are closed during construction?
The work has required the closure of routes through Oxpens Meadow and parts of Grandpont Nature Park.
The riverside path through Oxpens Meadow on the north side of the Thames has closed, while the lower riverside route through the Grandpont work area is also affected.
A signed alternative remains available through the upper part of Grandpont Nature Park, although the council warns that this route may also need to close for short periods when construction vehicles require access.
The Castlemill Stream bridge remains open.
The southern pedestrian route beneath the Botley Road railway bridge provides another connection into and out of central Oxford.
The section between the Gasworks Rail Bridge and the end of Whitehouse Lane may be closed temporarily when required for construction traffic.
| Route or facility | Current position |
|---|---|
| Oxpens Meadow riverside path | Closed during bridge construction |
| Lower path through the Grandpont work area | Closed or restricted during the work |
| Upper Grandpont Nature Park path | Serving as the signed diversion, but may close temporarily when work requires it |
| Castlemill Stream bridge | Remaining open |
| Route between Gasworks Rail Bridge and Whitehouse Lane | Expected to close only for shorter periods when construction access is needed |
| Oxford Ice Rink | Remaining open during the bridge works |
The affected paths are currently expected to reopen in spring 2027, when the bridge work is complete.
Dates and diversion arrangements may change as construction progresses. Walkers and cyclists should follow the temporary signs rather than relying on an older route map.
See the current closure and diversion map.
Foundations are the next major stage
Initial work began during the summer with the creation of a construction area on Oxpens Meadow.
Jackson Civil Engineering has installed protective fencing around retained trees and stripped topsoil from the areas needed for temporary hardstanding.
The soil is being stored for reuse once the compound and construction routes are removed.
Trial holes have also been dug on the Grandpont side to establish the position of existing data cables.
The prepared work areas will allow piling to begin for the bridge foundations.
Councillor Anna Railton, Oxford City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Zero Carbon Oxford, said:
“I’m pleased to see work underway on the new Oxpens River Bridge, a vital piece of infrastructure to improve sustainable travel in the city and connect residents in the south and west of the city with the city centre.
“The building work will be disruptive for some residents, but we will make every effort to keep this to a minimum during construction.”
Project budget increased to £14 million
Oxford City Council’s approved capital budget for the project was increased from £10.3 million to £14 million in August 2025.
The £3.7 million rise included contingency and was attributed in the council report to delays, the prolonged programme and construction-price inflation.
The published £14 million figure is the overall project budget. It is not the disclosed value of Jackson Civil Engineering’s construction contract, which has not been published separately.
Core funding has come from the Oxfordshire Growth Deal, a government-funded programme administered through Oxfordshire County Council.
Connecting path improvements are being supported through Housing Infrastructure Funding secured for infrastructure associated with housing growth.
The council also authorised agreements to secure additional external contributions needed to close the funding gap.
Funding in brief
| Original approved project budget | £10.3 million |
| Additional budget approved in August 2025 | £3.7 million |
| Total approved project budget | £14 million |
| Main funding source | Oxfordshire Growth Deal |
| Connecting path funding | Housing Infrastructure Funding |
| Final construction contract value | Not publicly disclosed |
Why the bridge is part of the West End plans
The crossing has been planned as part of the regeneration of Oxford’s West End, including development at Oxpens and Osney Mead and improvements around Oxford railway station.
Planning policy has identified the need for another pedestrian and cycle connection across the Thames in this area for more than a decade.
The council says the bridge will create a more direct route between new homes and employment areas west of the railway and central Oxford, while reducing pressure on existing routes.
The neighbouring Oxpens development proposes a new mixed-use quarter containing homes, student accommodation, offices, laboratories, a hotel and new public spaces.
Half of the proposed housing is intended to be affordable, subject to the separate development proceeding through planning and delivery.
The bridge is a standalone council infrastructure project and is being built before the wider Oxpens neighbourhood is complete.
Planning history and opposition
The scheme has been controversial among some residents and users of Grandpont Nature Park.
Concerns have included the project’s cost, loss of trees and habitat, the presence of existing nearby bridges and whether the wider route from Osney Mead will provide a fully flood-resilient connection.
Friends of Grandpont Nature Park argued that the existing Gasworks Rail Bridge and other routes should be improved instead of building a new crossing.
The group also said sections of the link between Osney Mead and the planned bridge remain vulnerable to flooding.
Oxford City Council says the older alternatives would not provide the required capacity or meet current cycling, accessibility and flood-design standards without extensive additional work.
The planning application was approved by the city’s planning committee in March 2024 and reconsidered by the Planning Review Committee in April after 16 councillors called in the original decision.
Formal planning permission was issued on 8 July 2024 after completion of the required legal agreement.
Friends of Grandpont Nature Park then brought a judicial review challenging the planning decision on five grounds, including the environmental-assessment process and the consideration of alternative routes.
The High Court dismissed all five grounds on 10 March 2025.
Separate permission from the Secretary of State for Transport to construct the bridge across the Thames was granted on 17 June 2025.
More than 70 trees retained after route change
The bridge and connecting path work still require some trees and vegetation to be removed.
However, a non-material planning amendment approved in January 2026 altered the alignment of the southern path and allowed more than 70 trees to be retained compared with the earlier design.
Tree removal during the construction period is being supervised by an ecological clerk of works.
If work is required during the bird-breeding season, a qualified ecologist must first check that no active nests would be disturbed.
The wider ecological measures include:
- planting native replacement trees;
- adding understorey vegetation to diversify habitat;
- installing bird and bat boxes;
- working under a district licence covering possible great crested newt habitat; and
- restoring temporary construction areas when the work finishes.
The council says the scheme has been designed to achieve a biodiversity net gain.
Plans for the wider Oxpens Meadow area also include new wetland planting and a swale, although the timing of those separate works will depend on the wider development programme.
Who will maintain the completed bridge?
Oxford City Council is responsible for delivering the project.
Once construction and adoption are complete, responsibility for maintaining the bridge will transfer to Oxfordshire County Council.
The steel structure and open form have been selected partly to simplify cleaning, inspection and long-term maintenance.
How to report a problem during construction
| Construction enquiries | OxpensBridgeProject@jackson-civils.co.uk |
| General project enquiries | regeneration@oxford.gov.uk |
| Latest closures and diversions | Oxpens River Bridge project page |
| Planning reference | 23/02506/CT3 |
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Oxpens River Bridge being built?
It will cross the Thames behind Oxford Ice Rink, linking Oxpens Meadow on the north bank with Grandpont Nature Park on the south bank.
When will the bridge open?
Oxford City Council expects the project to be completed during 2027. It has not announced an exact opening date.
When will the closed paths reopen?
The current expectation is spring 2027, once the main bridge work is complete. The timetable may change as construction progresses.
How much will the bridge cost?
The council’s approved overall project budget is £14 million. The final construction contract value has not been published.
Who is building it?
Jackson Civil Engineering is the appointed construction contractor.
How long will the bridge be?
The complete structure will be approximately 100 metres long, with a 37.5-metre main span across the river.
Will pedestrians and cyclists have separate lanes?
No. The bridge and connecting routes will form a 3.5-metre-wide unsegregated shared-use space.
Will the bridge be wheelchair accessible?
The council says the approaches are being designed with shallow, step-free gradients to meet accessibility requirements.
Will it be lit at night?
Not initially. The design allows lighting to be installed later, but the first version of the bridge will be unlit because of ecological and landscape concerns.
Will it be usable when the river floods?
The northern approach will be raised to provide a dry connection across the meadow during flooding. However, some surrounding riverside paths can still flood, and opponents have questioned whether the complete route from Osney Mead will always remain flood-free.
Why not improve the existing Gasworks bridge?
The council says earlier options involving the Gasworks Rail Bridge would not meet current standards for cycling, flood resilience, accessibility and expected capacity without further extensive work.
Will Grandpont Nature Park remain open?
Parts of the park remain accessible, but paths around the construction site are closed or diverted. The upper path is being used as an alternative route but may close temporarily when work requires it.
Is Oxford Ice Rink still open?
Yes. The council says the ice rink will remain open during the construction work.
How many trees are being removed?
The council has not published one simple final total in the latest announcement. A revised path alignment approved in January 2026 allows more than 70 trees to be retained compared with the earlier proposal, although some removal is still necessary.
Where can people see the latest diversion map?
The live map and construction updates are available through the Oxford City Council project page.
