The Botley Interchange is set to fully reopen ahead of schedule after causing months of delays for drivers

Gridlocked drivers have vented their frustration during the six-month-long work with five-hour delays and fights between stuck motorists at particularly congested periods. 

Work on the roundabout over the A34 at the busy commuter junction started last September and is due to finish on March 1.

READ MORE: Residents complain as work begins on traffic filter trial

The interchange has been reduced to a single lane of traffic with the initial target for completion of the works being at the end of March.

Oxford Mail: Traffic at Hinksey Hill

Vale of White Horse District councillor for Botley and Sunningwell Ward, Emily Smith said: "It’s really good news for everyone who has been impacted by it.

“There are lots of roadworks going on in the Botley area at the moment but the interchange one was particularly disruptive and added a lot of time to journies so I think people are going to be quite pleased it is going to be open again.

“I am aware of residents having issues with journey times being a lot longer and getting around the roundabout.

“There has been a knock-on impact on people driving the smaller local roads, through North Hinsey for example and past the school when they would usually be on the A34.

“It’s good news for local businesses as well, who need to use the interchange for deliveries

“Hopefully it will be a lot easier for people now.”

Oxford Mail:

Managing director of Oxfordshire-based company AR Property Partners, Alistair Redhouse, labelled the reopening a “positive” for hundreds of local businesses.

He revealed one of his colleagues resigned with traffic at the interchange being a main factor.

Mr Redhouse said: “I have spent the last year travelling between my offices in Kidlington and Botley.

“I have spent many hours stuck in the southbound A34 and needed to be mindful of when to book appointments to ensure I wasn't going to be late.

“The frustrations came to a head when one of my Botley-based colleagues resigned citing the traffic as a significant contributing factor.

“The end of the works is not only positive for myself and my business, but also the hundreds of local businesses and residents in West Oxford and Botley."

READ MORE: Family ‘emotionally scarred’ after a officer accused young man of assault

Oxford Mail: The lack of workers t Botley Interchange has been criticised

Kate Hargreaves, who works at Oxford University Press in Jericho, admitted her commute has been “challenging” while the works have been ongoing.

She said: “The Botley Road and Botley interchange work have hugely affected my commute.

“I now leave roughly a half hour earlier to not get caught in traffic so it is really good news.

“I hope that it will ease the commute for all as well as it being a start to making Oxford more accessible again”

Faringdon resident, Chelsea Luker, said: “There have been major delays. 

"I have been stuck twice in a five-hour long traffic jam trying to get into Oxford for work where I’m based along the southern bypass.

“It’s very good news about the reopening, better late than never.”

Julie Stockford added: “It will be good but I don’t believe it until it happens.

"It has been a nightmare, especially southbound."

A National Highways spokesperson said: “The Botley Interchange in Oxford is poised to resume operations earlier than initially scheduled, targeting a reopening by Friday, March 1.

“Progress in construction activities is exceeding expectations, with completion expected approximately four weeks ahead of the original program.

“The most recent closure to facilitate this work is scheduled from 9pm to  6am, running between Monday, February 12, and Friday, March 1.”

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said the reopening of the interchange would be “welcome news” for motorists.