The discovery of asbestos during the modernisation of Oxford station will not delay the project any further, Network Rail said.

The substance was found in soil on the grounds of the Old Station Nursery on Thursday.

The project resulted in the closure of Botley Road, a major access road into the city, and there were repeated delays in no date for completion yet.

Network Rail initially stated on social media that there had been a “further delay” to the work, but has since said that this will have “no significant impact”.

A spokesman said his teams had demolished the kindergarten building to use the site for works on Sheepwash Bridge, including the construction of new rail and road bridges.

“While the nursery building was relatively new, the site at this location had been in use since the 19th century – when the railway was built – and was previously part of the wider station area, which has led to the discovery of a number of materials that were previously buried,” they said.

The spokesman added that the Oxfordshire Connect project had funded the temporary relocation of the nursery to the Becket Street car park and that it would be rebuilt upon completion.

The towpath is closed from Rewley Road to the footbridge coming from Abbey Road.

Network Rail said the line would be temporarily reopened “in the near future” before being closed again later in the year “for safety reasons”.