Roadworks at the Botley Interchange are still on schedule, National Highways says, despite repairs being cancelled all this past week.

A bridge over the A34 at the busy commuter junction has been undergoing work to keep the structure safe.

Narrow lanes, lane closures and a reduced speeds caused traffic chaos on the A34 and A420 on September 14, with commuters stuck in jams of up to five hours on the A420.

However, work between Monday and Friday on the A34 underneath the Botley Interchange was called off this week.

It came as National Highways issued an update on the project, in which it said work was 'certainly on schedule'.

In the coming week, from Monday, October 2, to Monday, October 9 – but not at the weekends – the A420 over the interchange will be closed on weeknights from 9pm to 6am.

However, work will start later on Tuesday, October 3, beginning at 11pm. 

From Monday October 16, to Monday, October 30, the A420 over the Botley Interchange will be closed every night between 9pm and 6am.

On Monday and Tuesday, October 13 and 14 October, the northbound exit slip will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am.

Then, from Wednesday, October 15, to Sunday, November 19, the A420 over the interchange will be closed from 9pm to 6am.

From Wednesday to Monday, November 22 to 27 November, Botley Interchange will be closed between 9pm and 6am, including the A420 from Cumnor.

Through traffic on the A34 will be unaffected during all the closures, but there will be no access between the A420 and A34. 

National Highways said its work would continue in shifts until February next year. 

When the Botley Interchange is closed, drivers will be diverted either via A415 or A338 towards Marcham Road Interchange for the A34 or leave at Hinksey Hill for Oxford, using the A4144; B4044 and A40 towards Peartree or A34 and Peartree interchange.

When the A420 over the Botley Interchange is closed, drivers will be diverted via Peartree or Hinksey Hill interchanges and return. Through traffic will be diverted off and on again via Botley Interchange.

When the A34 underneath the Botley Interchange is closed, drivers will be diverted up and over the junction to continue their journey.

Driving between the A34 and A420 will be unaffected.

Following the tailbacks and congestion of September 14, National Highways introduced measures to improve the temporary road layout, including more warning signs further afield, new road markings to reinforce lane discipline and manually controlled traffic lights. 

Box junctions were repainted, to keep the junction clear at the end of the A34 southbound exit slip.

However, Oxfordshire County Council said two narrow lanes were due to stay open over the roundabout, instead of the closure of one lane.

Highways councillor Andrew Gant said there was a question mark about the level of communication and that representations would be made to National Highways 'in the strongest possible terms'.