The Environment Agency said in early October that the weir walkway will remain open until river flows increase, but the supporting structure still needs refurbishment to reach full strength. Because of this, the walkway remains at risk of temporary closure during high flows or when construction work begins.

Today there are multiple signs warning that the weir walkway is closed, with river levels now at their highest since that announcement was made.

And when you get close the weir walkway is closed.

For anyone who will miss seeing the rush of water over the weir, here is a short video taken a couple of days ago.

I was walking around Nags Head Island when somebody asked whether I had seen the otter. He said one visits there.

What I did see was a sunken boat called Wreckless, with a notice fixed to the cabin that began: ‘NOTICE TO REMOVE SUNK, STRANDED OR ABANDONED VESSEL.’

Beneath Abingdon Bridge the water was swirling – dull brown with carried mud. The river is running higher than yesterday and has spilled over the banks in places.

I was also told this evening that Abingdon Bridge is to close for a few days in March. For some, that will mean finding another way to work at Culham that doesn’t involve driving across the bridge. The structure has already seen long restrictions: first with a lane closed during the Covid shutdown, and later when strengthening work was carried out on one of the arches. This time, I understand, inspection work is planned for the other arches.

Water was flowing through the central sluice gates of Abingdon Weir today, but not over the sloping spillway. Often the flow is all the way across.

The footpath across the weir is currently open. It was closed for much of the spring and early summer for safety reasons. People were stopping to watch the large foaming cascade through the gates as they crossed.

The Environment Agency said in early October that the walkway will remain open until river flows increase, but the supporting structure still needs strengthening. Because of this, the walkway remains at risk of temporary closure during high flows or when construction work begins. Once contractors are able to start the strengthening work, the path will need to close again for the duration of the repairs.