A RAINBOW hung in the air above the Green Road roundabout, Oxford, as the new 'hamburger' junction was finally declared complete.

Residents who live near the notorious junction on the A40 at Headington were optimistic as the last traffic cones were removed, traffic lights were switched on, and motorists got their first taste of the 'hamburger'.

Work to create a road through the centre of the Green Road roundabout began in April, causing seven-and-a-half months of misery for drivers, local businesses and residents.

But as the rainbow arched in the sky above the roundabout yesterday, many residents stopped to look at the new traffic management scheme that has extra capacity for London-bound traffic on the A40 and traffic lights on approach roads.

The county council has delivered the scheme on schedule and on budget and today will be the first big test of the new layout.

And while it hopes long suffering motorists will get some "payback" after the delays of recent months, the authority has asked people not to jump to conclusions.

David Robertson, the council's cabinet member for transport, said: "People should resist the urge to make snap judgements about how successful the overall project has been.

"People will need to get used to the new system and that always takes time.

"It was always our aim to get this job done well before Christmas. We also wanted it done before the big changeover in Oxford's hospitals in January.

"More staff will be working at the John Radcliffe Hospital when the Radcliffe Infirmary closes.

"Roadworks on this scale always cause problems - hopefully now people will get some payback."

Local resident Alan Kimber- Nickelson, 62, of Quarry High Street, Headington, said: "I think traffic will flow differently and I think it will be easier to get around the roundabout.

"The trouble is a lot of people have avoided the roundabout in the past, so I hope the new junction doesn't increase traffic levels.

"I have watched the roadworks over the past months and I think the council has done extremely well.It would be fantastic if things are improved."

Sharit Ali, 35, of Green Road, said: "I think it will make a difference in terms of congestion. But we will have to see how it goes over the next few days when people are back at work."

Roger Cross, 62, of Bayswater Road, said the roundabout had become a "local attraction" as people kept an eye on the progress and got their first glimpse of the completed work yesterday.

Mr Cross said the roadworks had meant he had to keep the windows of his house closed, as traffic queues during the seven-month scheme backed up on Bayswater Road every morning.

"The new junction looks as if it will keep traffic flowing on the A40 better, but I am not sure how it will affect Bayswater Road yet," he said.

Phil Griffiths, of Colwell Drive, Green Ridges, said he had asked a highways officer with the council whether the new junction would make a great improvement, a big improvement, or a small improve- ment.

He added: "He wouldn't give me an answer, but the new junction has got to be an improvement. If not, I will be on to my MP, Andrew Smith."

David Blagdon, 55, of Lydia Close, Headington, was not impressed though: "I think it is a waste of time. They should have built a flyover."

  • Although the bulk of the scheme is complete, some work on footways, verges and the central reservation on the A40 still needs to be done, and this will result in lane closures between 9.30am and 4pm.

Work on a traffic calming scheme will also start today in London Road, Wheatley.

The road will be closed daily between Ambrose Rise junction and the eastern Old London Road junction, from 9am to 4pm.