DRIVERS are being warned they could face yet more delays on Oxford’s notorious Botley Road as the council carries out roadworks to prepare for a major new scheme.

Four more weeks of work will begin on April 30, with road closures overnight and pavement and cycle works during the day.

Oxford Mail:

The announcement comes a week after Southern Gas Networks completed repairs at the junction of Ferry Hinksey Road, which caused major delays.

Before that, drivers were forced to endure weeks of queues while Oxfordshire County Council fixed Frideswide Square.

Oxford Mail:

Mark Warde-Aldam, of The Oxford Wine Company, which has a store in Botley Road, said: “When the gas work was being done it definitely had an effect.

“Customers know the work is going on and avoid the area and that affects our footfall. I don’t know why they don’t just blitz the whole thing all at once.”

Last month the Oxfordshire Growth Board published details of major projects to receive funding over five years, including £3.2m for the Botley Road corridor project, plus £500,000 to look at widening Botley Road rail bridge.

The project is designed to upgrade the road surface, give buses priority and improve the route for cyclists.

But preparatory work, including identifying utility company pipes below the road, needs to be done and this will begin from April 30.

Signs have been put up in Botley Road that the latest work is to take place.

Oxford Mail:

A county council spokesman said: “We will be carrying out some survey work at locations along the Botley Road from April 30. This is low-impact work aimed at identifying and recording the location of underground utilities, to support planned improvements for 2020, which were announced last year.

“Work on the main carriageway will be limited to 10 consecutive nights starting on May 8 (excluding weekends).

“Work will only take place between 7pm and 6am to ensure any congestion or impact on bus services is kept to an absolute minimum.

“Footway and cycle track investigations will take place during the day, and this work is scheduled to take place between April 30 and May 21. Care will be taken to minimise disruption for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly at peak times.

“Appropriate traffic management will be in place to direct all users around any investigatory works.”

The council has not provided precise details about the work taking place but roadworks.org, a national roadworks monitoring website which the council refers drivers to, suggests the work will go on for longer than four weeks.

It lists the scheme starting on April 30 and concluding on June 12, with delays ‘possible’ and ‘likely’ at junctions betweens Cripley Road and Lamarsh Road.

The website indicates temporary traffic lights will be in place when work is being carried out at junctions.

And traffic lights look set to return to the Ferry Hinksey Road junction while more work is carried out.

City and county councillor for Jericho and Osney Susanna Pressel said she would try to ensure the county council kept disruption to an absolute minimum.

“I’m sorry to hear poor motorists may be subjected to more disruption,” she said.

“There will be some wonderful improvements to Botley Road, which are badly needed."

Last month a seven-week repair programme was completed at Frideswide Square after damage caused by 'unlawful driving'.

And it appears the square has been dogged by more, with two road signs at the Hollybush Row entrance flattened by a driver. It has not been fixed since last week.