MORE than £8m is to be spent on upgrading Junction nine of the M40 in an attempt to cut traffic congestion.

The Government has allocated £6.5m to the project and Oxfordshire County Council a further £2m to increase capacity at the junction and ease tailbacks on the motorway, the A34 and A41.

Work could start next year and would include widening the A34 approach to the junction from two to four lanes.

Traffic lights are to be installed on the section of roundabout between the A34 entry/exit, and lanes at the junction on the A41 north and southbound will be widened.

It is one of just eight road schemes across the country to be included in the Government’s Pinch Point Programme, with the funding announced yesterday.

The new work is the second phase of improvements for the road, after phase one was completed last year.

Upgrades costing £4m saw the southbound motorway exit and the turn from the roundabout on to the A34 both widened to three lanes.

When phase one was completed there were concerns money wouldn’t be made available for phase two.

So the latest funding announcement has been welcomed by leaders across the county.

County council cabinet member for transport Rodney Rose said: “Increasing capacity at M40 Junction 9 will be a real catalyst for future development of the town. We’re delighted the Government has acknowledged the pressing need for investment.”

The move will also pave the way for more housing and commercial development in Bicester, which had been dependent on the junction getting an upgrade.

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Chairman Adrian Shooter said: “Bicester is already home to some 30,000 people and boasts the internationally renowned Bicester Village Outlet Centre, which attracts more than 5.5 million visitors a year.

“However, the town has even greater potential for sustainable economic growth and it has been clear for some time that tackling congestion at Junction 9 would remove a significant obstacle to reaching that potential.”

Bicester’s MP Sir Tony Baldry said: “This is great news.

“This is a clear recognition of the importance of Bicester’s development and of the need to get Junction 9 sorted.”