Traffic roadworks mean misery for drivers as more delays expected

Roadworks brought traffic travelling into the city to a standstill, with many journeys taking three or four times longer than usual.

And drivers have been warned traffic may not return to normal until April, due to various ongoing projects.

Work to build a new junction at Worcester Street and George Street as part of the Frideswide Square redevelopment began yesterday, to add to existing works at the Kennington roundabout and The Plain.

Our top stories

London Road resurfacing begins next Monday. The main work on Frideswide Square is set to begin in February 2015.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for environment David Nimmo Smith said: “The roadworks have got to be done, we are not going to stop them.”

The next planned phase of the Kennington roundabout is due to commence when the contraflow is moved to the westbound carriageway overnight between October 15 and 16. 

This will result in the temporary closure of Abingdon Road in both directions where it meets the roundabout until at least November. 

Mr Nimmo Smith defended the decision to carry out the roadworks and said it would be at least another month before things improved. 

He said: “The Kennington and Hinksey roadworks are due to finish in late November, before the Frideswide Square works. We’ve made sure they don’t impact on each other. 

“The roadworks are coming to a close in Kennington and Hinksey Hill, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel in a month’s time. 

“In the meantime there will be reduced capacity on London Road and at various points and it will impact on the ability to get around the city.” 

Traffic jams on Oxford’s Botley Road, top, and above roadworks begin on Hythe Bridge Street  
Mr Nimmo Smith said the reason a large number of roadworks were happening at the same time was due to Government grants. 
He said: “A certain amount of money is given to us on the condition the works are done by a certain time. A lot of it comes from central government. 
“For example, The Plain roundabout improvements have to be completed by March next year. 
“We either duck the issue because of the impact or we say ‘we have got the money, let’s get it done.’ It’s a juggling act.” 
Oxford City Council board member for transport John Tanner said the problems could continue until April. 
He said: “The traffic hold-ups put a huge cost and a huge burden on family and business life. I think it is essential that these schemes are organised in sequence, rather than all together. 
“The city is going to grind to a halt between now and April if these schemes are not done in turn. 
“The traffic situation is only going to get worse.” 
Yesterday saw traffic backed up on a number of main routes into Oxford including Banbury Road, Botley Road and St Giles. 
Drivers from Witney faced journey times of almost three hours and commuters using the A420 reported queues tailing back to Besselsleigh. 
Drivers took to social media to vent their anger at the delays, which were made worse by heavy rain that created poor driving conditions. 
Motorist Henry Beggin, 23, from Hinksey Hill, said: “Traffic around Oxford seems to be getting worse especially at the moment with works at the end of the the Abingdon Road going on for months without much sign of progress. 
“It’s creating chaos, even jamming back up to Botley.” 
There are concerns consistent traffic delays will affect businesses in and around Oxford. 
Clair Prosser, Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce policy executive, said: “We hope that the relevant authorities will be able to mitigate the impact of the roadworks, particularly the effect on business and the supply chain in particular.” 
In an email between Oxford city councillor Susanna Pressel and senior engineer for highways and transport at Oxfordshire County Council, Andy Warren – seen by the Oxford Mail – Mr Warren said the temporary traffic lights on Botley Road and St Giles would be manually operated during peak times. 

The Roadworks

Kennington Roundabout/Hinksey Hill until January 9, 2015. 
Frideswide Square: Work on Becket Street, Osney Lane and the Worcester Street/George Street junction until December 8. Main work on the square due to start in February 2015 and finish by December 2015. 
Cycling and pedestrian improvement work on The Plain, Cowley Place, Cowley Road, Iffley Road, St Clement’s Street, High Street and Longwall Street until April 6, 2015. 
London Road widening work until December 6.

• Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.