A NEW traffic scheme is being put in place to save thousands of commuters from facing more roadwork misery at Milton Park estate near Didcot.

Work to replace the Potash Lane bridge over the railway line near the A34 Milton interchange started in October and was due to be completed by Monday.

But earlier this week it was announced that 6,500 people working at the business park faced further delays, because the project will not be completed until July. Extra work is needed to strengthen the foundations of the road leading up to the bridge.

Now, following a meeting between Network Rail, the county council and the managers of the estate, an interim solution has been put forward – a tidal flow traffic system. Currently, drivers can get into the estate via the Milton Interchange, but they have to use a different exit to leave.

A new traffic system will now be introduced to help workers on their drive home.

Drivers will only be able to use the Milton interchange entrance for access to the business park in the mornings, while in the later afternoon and evening it will only be used as an exit.

Russell Spink, a spokesman for Network Rail, said: “We would like to apologise to the staff of the Milton Park estate for the added delay.

“But the new tidal flow system should help drivers on Milton Park while work is continuing.

“The interim solution was agreed at a meeting on Wednesday and the new system should be in place by the end of the month.”

Jackie Billington, 46, from Didcot, an accountant for land and property consultants RPS, said: “This is the solution we wanted and I look forward to it being introduced.

“At the moment, drivers can’t get back out on to the Milton interchange at the end of the day and have to go round, getting back into Didcot via the Basil Hill Road roundabout.

“It adds at least three miles to my journey every day and sometimes it takes me an extra 40 minutes to get home.”

Mr Spink said the failure to complete the work on schedule was caused partly by the cold snap in December, when freezing temperatures made it impossible for the contractors working on the new bridge to pour concrete.

He added: “A more serious issue came to light when we discovered that the approach roads on each side of the bridge were in a far worse condition than we first thought. The earthworks beneath the road surface now need strengthening.”

The county council is jointly funding the improvements with Network Rail.

Ian Hudspeth, the council’s cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “The solution we are putting forward should also help reduce traffic through nearby villages.”

Stephen Forster, a spokesman for MEPC, which owns the business park, said: “Milton Park is very pleased that one of the solutions we suggested has been agreed.”