FED up motorists face another four days of misery on one of Oxford’s main roads.
Roadworks on Iffley Road were due to end last week but are now not scheduled to finish until Friday, the Oxford Mail can confirm.
Part of the East Oxford road has been dug up and fenced off for Thames Water drainage works, outside Wadham College’s under-construction student flats.
Two-way temporary traffic lights have been in place for weeks, near the Percy Street junction, causing huge tailbacks during rush hour.
Roadworks.org had logged the scheme for completion last Friday, after which information about the works vanished from the website despite continued disruption.
Traffic in Iffley Road and Donnington Bridge Road at 3.30pm yesterday. Pic: Google Maps
Wadham College warned of ‘traffic delays’ starting this week, stating on its website: "Temporary traffic lights are in operation while drainage services are connected to the Wadham student accommodation building site."
A college spokesperson added: "Barring unforeseen circumstances, the lights are scheduled to be in place until Friday.
"Wadham College would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to motorists and local residents during this period."
ALSO READ: Wadham College plans for Iffley Road student accommodation
When the Oxford Mail visited the site yesterday morning, there was standstill congestion.
Queues heading towards The Plain roundabout stretched back past Donnington Bridge Road, with chaotic scenes as vehicles blocked the junction and made it impossible for opposing motorists to turn onto the bridge.
The temporary lights are situated either side of a zebra crossing, meaning drivers given the green light often had to stop suddenly to give way to pedestrians.
The orange light of the pedestrian crossing can be seen above. Pic: Richard Cave
Cars wait for a pedestrian after the light turns green. Pic: Richard Cave
Kazem Hakimi, owner of the popular Oxford Fish Shop in Iffley Road, said: “It’s a little bit dangerous - maybe they should put a temporary pedestrian crossing further down the road.
“I am crossing my fingers they will finish this week.”
ALSO READ: March misery for motorists as Thames Water plan further roadworks
At times the crossing has been closed at either side by orange barriers to avoid conflict between cars and pedestrians, but it was open during rush hour yesterday.
One East Oxford resident who relies on the route to get to and from work said her 15-minute journey took 40 minutes yesterday morning due to the hold-up on Iffley.
The driver, who asked not to be named, said the works had caused ‘chaos’ and there were no signs telling drivers when the works would end.
The Dorothy Wadham Building, which is scheduled for completion in October, will house 135 student rooms.
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