TRAFFIC is reportedly at near-gridlock in the centre of Abingdon because of roadworks.

The White Horse roundabout, at the junction of Marcham Road, Ock Street, Drayton Road and Spring Road has been made a one-way system for the works.

A four-way traffic light control system means only traffic coming from one direction can move at any time.

Queues in Marcham Road are stretching back to the Marcham interchange and in Drayton Road they stretch as far south as Preston Road.

In Ock Street the traffic is stretching as far as the town centre and there are queues in Spring Road as well.

The works are for the creation of two new pedestrian crossings in Marcham Road and Ock Street designed to ease traffic jams in the area.

The two new crossings will replace the existing one on Marcham Road immediately west of Drayton Road.

They were ordered by a planning inspector to mitigate the effect of a new 158-home estate which was granted permission in Drayton Road.

Abgindon Town Council and many residents objected to the new estate on the grounds it would create unacceptable extra traffic.

The planning inspector said he hoped people using the two crossings regularly would break up queues of cars, and allow cars trying to join Marcham Road and Ock Street from Drayton Road to get in.