Oxfordshire: A34 delays as gas works overrun

National Highways has advised drivers to allow extra journey time, re-route or even delay their journey

Roadworks on a major route have overrun causing lengthy delays.

The work by SGN on the A34 near Oxford shut the southbound carriageway over the weekend, between the A44 Peartree Interchange and the A423 Hinksey Hill.

One lane had been due to reopen at 05:00 GMT - with the second lane shut for the rest of the week for the gas works. The lane eventually reopened at about 16:00 GMT.

SGN and National Highways have apologised.

Chloe Boyce, from SGN, said: "Part of the pipe that we were replacing took a bit longer than we expected.

"The engineering work is all done now but we have to leave the road as it is so we can let the concrete set.

"We are planning to open that lane this evening. We are really sorry for the disruption."

The work is being carried out to replace existing metal pipelines with new plastic ones.

Oxfordshire County Council said: "It is very frustrating that SGN have missed the agreed reopening time.

"This failure to stick to a plan that would have seen the road cleared in time for the busy commute will have knock-on effects for everyone. It is something we will be strongly taking up with both SGN and National Highways on behalf of the travelling public."

SGN and National Highways have apologised for the disruption

Zac Iqbal, who runs Botley mechanics First Stop Spanner Works, said: "We've got 15 or so cars booked... I don't think many of those cars are going to make it in today.

"It's a mess. The Botley Road is like an island, closed down at both sides - one at the bridge and one at the A34.

"It's a nightmare for businesses."

Adrian Beare, National Highways operations manager for the region, said: "We are aware of the delays and the inconvenience this overrunning work has caused for people travelling through Oxfordshire this morning and on behalf of our partners at SGN we want to apologise.

"We work hard to keep our strategic road network open and with traffic moving as freely as possible."

He said together with SGN and the council "emergency steps" had been taken to "get one southbound lane open as soon as possible" and "both lanes fully functioning again by this Saturday morning".

During the closure traffic was diverted off at the Peartree Interchange to re-join the A34 at Hinksey Hill interchange.

National Highways advised drivers to allow extra journey time, re-route or even delay their journey.

There will also be two full southbound overnight closures on Thursday and Friday.