WORK to resurface Ducklington Lane in Witney has been delayed by four weeks.

The £2.5m project, the first phase of transport improvements in the town, was due to be completed by early next month but has been put back after unexpected gas pipes and electricity cables were found.

Oxfordshire County Council, which is carrying out the work, has blamed energy companies for not including them on maps they supplied.

Resurfacing work was due to begin on Monday, October 6, but will now start next Thursday.

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Work will be carried out in phases over three weeks from the A40 roundabout to the Station Lane junction, between 8pm and 6am, Monday to Friday.

Diversions will be in place, using the A40, A415, B4047, A4095 and B4022.

The scheme, which started in April, is now expected to be completed in early December.

The council is building a new traffic signal-controlled junction between Ducklington Lane and Station Lane.

It will have three-lane approaches and two-lane exits – merging to one – on all roads except Thorney Leys, which will have one exit.

Two lanes will be created on the Ducklington Lane northbound stretch, between the roundabout south of the A40 and the Station Lane junction.

The project is part of the county council’s Witney Area Transport Strategy, which also includes building new junctions on the A40 at Downs Road and Shores Green.

County council cabinet member for transport, David Nimmo Smith, said: “This is very unfortunate but this diversion work must be carried out.”


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