ROADWORKS on a main commuter route into Oxford will not take place during the rush hour after causing long delays.

Transport chiefs yesterday ordered Thames Water to carry out the work in Abingdon Road at off peak times after lengthy queues built up during the morning rush hour.

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said officers were “not happy” with how the utility company had handled the work. Yesterday’s queues stretched to Weirs Lane and had a knock-on effect on Iffley Road.

Council spokesman Paul Smith said: “The use of temporary traffic lights was not being conducted properly. It was not manually controlled by an operative or sensitive to queues.”

The work, which started on Thursday, is due to continue until next Tuesday.

No one from Thames Water was available to comment.

A crash on the A34 between Oxford and Abingdon also caused traffic problems for commuters yesterday.

A car hitting the crash barrier on the southbound carriageway at about 8.45am. The driver escaped injury but was treated for shock.

Tailbacks were also caused on the A420 by a collision between a black BMW and a black Scania lorry near Pusey at 6.56am. The BMW driver was injured.