West St Helen Street remains quiet following a further extension of the emergency road closure outside St Helen’s Church.
Oxfordshire County Council says the closure has now been extended until 6 February 2026.
Residents on the street seem to be enjoying the peace, and the absence of traffic queues. The High Street also seems quieter. For people travelling in from South Abingdon, however, the diversion is less welcome and I have heard people complaining about the time it takes to get into town.
The reason for the extension is unclear. The van in the photograph is not from SGN (the gas contractor) but from Abingdon Town Council, whose staff were working in the churchyard, cutting back ivy.
P.S Work has resumed today (29th January) using a lorry with a large drill that has managed to get down deeper round the old gas pipes. So it looks like progress was waiting on that.
This is emergency work. Then it will be followed by scheduled work. So weeks of traffic problems.
Maybe they should have ignored the gas leak, Kelly, just to keep you happy?
What a stupid comment. I have no problem with the emergency work having to be done, of course it must. I was merely drawing attention to the fact that the notice says the emergency work will end on 6th Feb as if that’s an end to the traffic problem. While there were other notices some weeks ago, some people may not be aware that there will then be a further 4 weeks or so of scheduled work so the traffic problems will continue.
There’s no need for unwarranted sarcasm.
I talked with the guys working on site today. It appears that British Gas have handed the work of replacing the gas main over to contractors. These are the teams who have been replacing the gas mains in south Abingdon over the past months. – (I’ll not repeat what he said about BG !)
They are hoping to have the gas work by the church completed by Monday evening. (2nd Feb) It is then up to another contractor to come in to fill and tarmac the holes. After resurfacing they usually allow 24hrs
before permitting vehicular traffic to use it.
Work is scheduled to start on the gas main replacement works on the rest of the wharf, starting on Monday 9th Feb, lasting for up to a month, with a further road closure in place.
Unfortunatley, Kelly, l don’t read minds and your comment comes across like you were moaning about the gas works. As l am wrong l will apologise.
A really welcome break for all the Backstreeters. Delightful getting to work in the morning too for this Forestreeter. Not so great getting home and very tough on all who use the wharf route.