MOTORISTS can expect delays when major roadworks begin in Oxford in the coming weeks.

The next stage of resurfacing on Iffley Road will start on Monday, along with work in Headington and the A4074 near Nuneham Courtenay.

Work in Littlemore and North Hinksey will follow.

Oxfordshire County Council began resurfacing work on Iffley Road, from The Plain to Henley Street, in May, adding in crossings and extending parking.

Work finished in November and will resume from near the junction of Henley Street to near Stanley Road.

The junctions of Aston Street, Stanley Road and Chester Street will close until February 3. Work will continue towards Donnington Bridge Road to the end of June.

Iffley Road residents and businesses welcomed the work but urged contractors to complete it as quickly as possible.

Kate Pattullo, owner of the Acorn Guest House, said: “The road is dangerous for cyclists because the edges of the road are so bad.”

Mossy Rana, who runs Onhandsports, where work has already been completed, said trade was hit.

He said: “It was difficult because no-one could park and they were afraid of using side streets because those use residents’ permits.”

Mohammed Abdul Kadir, who runs Iffley General Store and Off Licence, said: “They were working very slowly, that was the problem.”

County council transport cabinet member Rodney Rose said: “The extensive nature of the work does not make it possible for the works to be carried out in any other method.”

Work could not take place at night as it is a residential area, he said.

In Headington the junctions of Old Road with Valentia Road, Finch Close and Highfield Avenue will be closed for junction work aimed at improving road conditions in the area for pedestrians and cyclists.

Closures of the Old Road junctions at Bickerton Road and Stapleton Road then Lime Walk and Latimer Road with London Road will follow, with all the work taking an estimated 50 days to complete.

Drivers using the A4074 can expect delays from Monday when patching work begins on the Golden Balls roundabout near Nuneham Courtenay for about a week.

Newman Road and Eastern Avenue off Oxford Road in Littlemore will be disrupted as Southern Gas Networks replace pipes over two to three weeks from January 16.

Work will then move to Oxford Road south of the junction of Ashurst Way to the Cowley Road, Littlemore junction for about eight weeks.

Work will also start in fields off North Hinksey Lane as part of a scheme to upgrade Botley’s sewers.

The road will be closed in sections from the end of February.

It is expected that Cowley Road will close from St Nicholas Road to Newman Road in April or May for about eight weeks.

Gas replacement work which was due to begin in Old Marston Road and Marston Road yesterday is now set to start sometime this month.