Work starts next month to get rid of a frequent traffic bottleneck on a major approach road into Abingdon.

The work will remove the existing bottleneck in busy Marcham Road on the approach to the Nuffield Way roundabout from the A34, and provide a left turn slip lane onto Nuffield Way.

The scheme, a high priority for the Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy (AbITS), aims to cut frequent traffic snarl-ups on the road.

The stretch of road, which reduces from two lanes to one approaching the Nuffield Way roundabout, is frequently clogged in the rush hour, with queues tailing back to the A34.

The work, expected to take 17 weeks, is the first phase of a two-part scheme for Marcham Road between the A34 and Colwell Drive.

Phase two of the scheme, expected to start in 2005/06, will improve the approach to the Colwell Drive roundabout.

David Robertson, county council executive member for transport, said: "I am pleased that we are able to start work on this particular section of road that has caused such congestion in the past.

"There will be delays for traffic between the A34 interchange and Nuffield Way while the work is going on and we regret this, but we will try to keep delays to an absolute minimum.

"Once the work is complete, the journey into Abingdon will be far quicker and easier."

Abingdon county councillor Lesley Legge, a member of the AbITS members' steering group, said: "The dualling of Marcham Road has been a long-standing aspiration of the councillors involved in AbITS and, together with phase two of the scheme, will improve access into the town."