Construction has officially begun on the new Oxpens River Bridge, marking the next stage of a project intended to create a new walking and cycling connection between Grandpont, Oxpens and Oxford city centre.
The fully accessible pedestrian and cycle bridge will cross the River Thames, providing a new link between communities to the south and west of the city and the city centre. Oxford City Council expects construction to be completed in 2027.
The bridge forms part of the wider Oxford West End regeneration programme and is intended to improve connections between Oxpens, Grandpont, Osney Mead and the city centre. The council says the new route will provide an alternative to existing connections and support increased walking and cycling in the area.
Work gets under way
Jackson Civil Engineering has been preparing the site since the summer. Work so far has included installing tree protection fencing, removing topsoil for reuse and creating the working area required for construction of the bridge’s piled foundations.
Trial holes have also been carried out on the southern side of the site to locate existing data cables before construction progresses.
The council says there will be some disruption while the bridge is being built. Footpaths around Oxpens Meadow and Grandpont Nature Park have been subject to closures and diversions as the works progress, with alternative routes provided for pedestrians and cyclists. The council expects the affected paths to reopen in spring 2027, around the time the bridge is completed.
The construction timetable follows planning permission granted in July 2024. The project also required permission to build across the River Thames, which was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in June 2025. A judicial review brought a delay to the original construction timetable after the case was heard in the High Court in February 2025 and dismissed.
A new connection across the Thames
The bridge has been planned as part of longer-term improvements to connectivity across Oxford’s West End. The council says it will provide a direct off-road route for pedestrians and cyclists between the city centre and the areas around Oxpens, Grandpont and Osney Mead.
The proposed bridge will be 3.5 metres wide and shared by pedestrians and cyclists. The connecting path on the Grandpont side will also be improved, with a reduced gradient intended to make the route easier to use.
The project is funded through the Oxfordshire Growth Deal and is identified by the council as an important infrastructure project supporting the wider regeneration of the West End.
Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Zero Carbon Oxford, said the work would improve sustainable travel and connect residents in the south and west of the city with the city centre, while acknowledging the disruption during construction.
Jackson Civil Engineering has also committed to working with nearby schools and local organisations during the construction period, including careers and STEM activities and support for local charities.
Once construction is complete, the council says the area will be restored with additional native trees and planting, together with bird and bat boxes. The wider project also includes measures intended to maintain tree canopy and biodiversity.
The Oxpens River Bridge is expected to be completed in 2027.
