Home / Environment / Thames Footbridge Reopens After 3-Year Safety Closure
Thames Footbridge Reopens After 3-Year Safety Closure
1 Apr
Summary
- The footbridge over the River Thames in south Oxfordshire reopened after three years.
- The structure was closed in November 2022 due to corroded and damaged supports.
- A £15.1 million project by the Environment Agency replaced the bridge and upgraded the weir.
A significant footbridge carrying the Thames Path National Trail over Benson Weir in south Oxfordshire has officially reopened, concluding a closure of more than three years. The bridge was shut in November 2022 after a structural survey revealed severe corrosion and damage to its supports.
The closure caused considerable disruption, forcing walkers to undertake lengthy detours or use ferries to navigate the 185-mile Thames Path. The Environment Agency undertook a comprehensive £15.1 million project to replace the footbridge entirely and enhance the Benson Weir.
This upgrade includes a new safety pass for fish and eels, as well as improved weir gates designed for better water level management year-round, even during heavy floods. The project, executed from a floating platform, faced delays due to adverse weather and high river levels in September 2024, pushing the reopening to spring 2025 relative to the project timeline, and now in 2026.
Environmental considerations also impacted the works, with the relocation of water vole habitats upstream. This reopening restores vital connectivity for the local community and for those traversing the Thames Path.
