DRIVERS on three of the county’s busiest roads have been hit by delays more than 28 times every day this year.

Motorists who use the roads have faced traffic misery with 6,785 incidents of congestion on the sections of the A34, A40 and M40 that run through Oxfordshire from January 1 to August 25, according to traffic analysis company INRIX.

And motorists are being warned the situation could get even worse as many schools return today after their summer break.

Businesses have warned the frequent congestion – defined by INRIX as any instance of cars moving very slowly or stopping – has hurt trade in Oxford and discouraged out-of-town visitors.

Richard Bailey, who owns Daisies Flowers in Walton Street, said traffic was a major problem for his business.

He said: “We have been around for 27 years and 10 or 20 years ago people came in from all across Oxfordshire to us.

“Now they don’t because it is just too much effort.

“People are going to Banbury, Bicester, Milton Keynes – anywhere instead of Oxford.

“It has been really bad since January, but just wait until the schools and universities are back.”

Businesswoman Caroline Hanney, an antiques dealer at Antiques on High in High Street, said she was concerned about the congestion getting worse later in the year.

She said: “We have been really busy but it has been visitors who have been in Oxford rather than people from outside. Anything where people are discouraged from coming into the city is a problem. It may have an impact on the Christmas shoppers, so if it remains difficult to travel at Christmas that would be a problem.

“It would be good if the Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roadworks could be relaxed then to help.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics complied using data from the 2011 census showed 45,852 people travel into Oxford every day to work, shop and visit the city.

Of those 7,541 came from West Oxfordshire and 9,528 from Cherwell, where the A40 and M40/A34 are two of the main road links to Oxford.

Graham Jones, spokesman for Oxford business group ROX, said traders feared Oxford falling behind smaller towns as traffic problems continued.

He said: “Oxford is the county’s main city and the shopping offer has in the past been that much larger than the market towns.

“But some of those places such as Banbury and Witney are getting their act together.

“It means if you have a chance of getting something on your doorstep without getting into Oxford, with all the challenges that entails, then you will take that option.”

The A40 has been the worst affected road this year with 3,983 congestion incidents – an average of 16.8 each day.

The A34 had 2,271 incidents, an average of 9.6 a day, and the M40 had 531, an average of 2.2 each day.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said the authority, which manages the A40 within the county, was doing its best to reduce congestion.

He said: “The A40 is used by increasing levels of traffic and the whole corridor needs attention. That is why it is such an acute focus in the council’s Local Transport Plan.

“It is also why we will launch a consultation in the autumn about broader options in future years.”

Current work at the Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts is designed to ease congestion on the A40 when complete.

Oxford Mail:

TRAVEL ADVICE AS SCHOOLS RETURN

Commuters were warned they could face significant delays today as many schools returned after the summer holidays.

Oxfordshire County Council advised people to plan their journeys to avoid disruption where possible and to consider using different routes or types of transport as well as leaving at a different time.

Work is now well under way at Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts in North Oxford and phase three of the Frideswide Square work is also taking place.

There is also work taking place on the A34 Milton interchange to create a new ‘hamburger’ roundabout, which will be controlled by traffic lights.

And London Road in Bicester is closed due to work on the level crossing as part of the new railway line between Bicester, Oxford and London.

County council cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith said: “I really want people to try other options.

“The default position for many people is that there is no option but the car for them.

“But simply trying the bus, car sharing, cycling, walking or combining a number of modes for your journey can really make a difference.”

People have been advised to plan their journeys using traveline.info and oxfordshire.gov.uk/travelchoices