Keep your cool - that was the warning given to gridlocked drivers last night who are facing car journeys from hell due to major roadworks.

At least 40 minutes are being added to drivers' journeys following the Highways Agency's decision to close the A34 northbound carriageway between Oxford's Botley interchange and the Peartree roundabout.

Contractors are carrying out emergency work to dismantle the Seacourt stream bridge and the road closure will continue to cause chaos for the next four-and-a-half weeks.

Highways bosses said the work was crucial and could not be delayed and are appealing to drivers to stay calm and to follow diversion signs carefully.

"It is important that drivers don't become distracted by the tailbacks," said Highways Agency spokesman Sara Tuck. "They need to pay careful attention to their driving because if they have an accident that will cause further snarl-ups."

Sgt Phil Murphy, of Bicester traffic base, said there have not been any road rage incidents reported yet despite drivers being left at a stand-still.

But the chaos has proved a headache for the operators of Swinford Toll Bridge with an extra 1,000 vehicles a day crossing - and tempers fraying with toll collectors.

David Jackson, who manages the 230-year-old bridge with his wife, Sue, has put up signs pleading with harassed motorists to show a bit of tolerance for any delays at the bridge.

"I have doubled the number of staff and asked them to be especially polite to drivers. All I am asking for is a bit of patience," he said. Routes out of Oxford via Banbury Road and Woodstock Road have been jammed and there have also been tailbacks on Botley Road as drivers try to work out a cross-city route. Sgt Murphy said: "There have been one or two accidents in tailbacks and traffic has been slowing to a halt at the approaches to the roundabouts on the ring road.

"Drivers are going to have to be patient and try to find alternative routes."

Amy Ahmed, from the Automobile Association's roadworks unit, advised drivers to:

Allow extra travelling time for your journey

Find alternative transport

Follow diversion signs and keep your distance

Drivers across Oxfordshire are angry that the work is being carried out in the run-up to Christmas and when children are back at school. Mandy Jennings, of the Ladygrove estate, Didcot, said: "It's a nightmare. The queues going northbound stretch back about two miles from the Redbridge park and ride. I am now trying different alternatives routes. I go through Radley and Kennington or I go along the back road through Culham but it adds extra time to my journey."

Marketing manager Helen Cook, of Woodstock, was stuck on the A44 as she drove into Oxford. She said: "Traffic was solid all the way from the Peartree roundabout." she said.

"There is no ideal time to do this but this must be the worst time of year they could have chosen."

John Chute, 29, from Headington, added: "Traffic heading for the London Road now backs up right to the bottom of Headington Hill during rush-hour. These diversions have caused complete chaos.

"I suspect highways bosses are taking the cheapest option at our expense.

"There must be a way of reinforcing the bridge without closing the road."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.