A major study of the congested junction nine of the M40, near Bicester, will give councillors the chance to lobby for extra lanes.

The Department of Transport announced last week that minor alterations would be undertaken in November and December to increase the capacity of the junction. This would help traffic wanting to leave the M40 at junction nine at Wendlebury and turn south on the A34 towards Oxford.

In addition to the minor works the study will look at longer term improvements.

Bicester South county councillor Charles Shouler said: "If the work means the nearside carriageway of the M40 is dedicated to traffic wanting to turn off at junction nine, it will have to be over a long stretch, perhaps back to junction 10 at Ardley."

Mr Shouler explained that a study into junction nine had been started by the Government Office of the South East and had been transferred to the South East Regional Assembly.

He thought many organisations would be consulted on ways of finding solutions. Mr Shouler has argued in the past for an extra slip lane to be built so that traffic from the Bicester direction heading for London can avoid the junction.

Chesterton district councillor Andrew Fulljames said he would also like a slip road or lane to take traffic on the A34 dual-carriageway that was heading north to Birmingham onto the M40 without going through junction nine.