A railway bridge construction project in Oxford has been revealed to have cost nearly £90 million more than the inflation-adjusted cost of the London Eye, a popular tourist attraction. The bridge, which spans a two-lane road, took more than three and a half years to complete, with a total cost of £237.4 million. This includes improvements to the nearby train station and a redesigned road layout. Originally, the project was expected to cost £161 million. According to the Bank of England’s inflation calculator, the London Eye cost the equivalent of £150 million and took just 14 months to build. In comparison, the Millennium Bridge, another famous London structure, took 14 months to build and cost £36 million after adjusting for inflation. The reopening of Botley Road last weekend reconnected west Oxford with the city centre, ending years of closure due to the construction work. The project began in April 2023 with an initial deadline of October 2024. However, the deadline was missed as builders faced challenges in navigating a complex system of pipes and cables beneath the road. An August 2026 deadline has also passed, meaning further upgrades to the station, such as a new platform, are yet to be carried out at a later date. Community campaigner Julian Le Vay estimated in January that local businesses have lost about £50 million in revenue, with more than 120 jobs lost, according to the Oxford Mail. Tim Walden, Network Rail's Wales and western region capital delivery director, expressed regret over the disruption caused by the road closure and thanked the local community for their patience during the complex construction work. Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, criticized the project, stating that Oxford has spent three years stuck in traffic for an over-budget bridge that offers little benefit to drivers and passengers. A Network Rail spokesperson explained that the delays and increased costs were due to unexpected engineering challenges, including a major water pipe above a Victorian sewer, a hidden Victorian arch beneath the railway, and gas leaks discovered during excavation. While acknowledging the frustration caused by the prolonged closure, the spokesperson noted that these issues needed to be resolved safely before the project could be completed. The reopening of Botley Road is seen as a major milestone, helping people move around the city more easily and unlocking long-term benefits for Oxford’s residents, businesses, and visitors.