ROADWORKS along one of Oxford's busiest routes were completed ahead of evening rush hour. 

Thames Water had been working since Monday afternoon to fix a burst water main, which caused gridlock across the city during rush hour on Monday night and again on Tuesday.

UPDATE: Drivers call for action to ease Botley Road problems - but it's not looking hopeful

Oxford Mail:

Traffic on the A420 and Botley Road at 8.15am on Tuesday morning, shown on Google Maps

Temporary traffic lights were in place at either side of Osney Bridge and at the junction with Ferry Hinksey Road, but have since been lifted.

Thames Water spokeswoman Abby Turner said: "We’re really sorry for the disruption caused by our work to fix a leaking pipe.

"This was a priority job for us and temporary traffic lights are needed to allow us to carry out the repair safely.

"Our engineers have worked extended hours to fix the leak and they’re worked hard to reinstate the road so the job was completed before rush hour this evening.

"We would like to thank people for their patience and understanding during this time."

She said reducing leakage is a 'key priority' for the water company, adding: "As part of our record £11.7 billion business plan for 2020-25, we propose to invest £2.1 billion to reduce [leakage] by 15 per cent, with plans to halve it by 2050."

The lane closure in Botley Road caused chaos during rush hour yesterday evening, with traffic backed up all the way into the city centre past Frideswide Square.

Drivers reported hour-long delays coming out of Osney Mead industrial estate.

READ AGAIN: Burst water main causing gridlock in city centre

Delays affected traffic in both directions and Oxfordshire County Council urged motorists to allow extra time, warning of 'long delays'.

Congestion heading into the city this morning was made even worse by a two-car crash on the A420, near the Botley Interchange.

Traffic caused by the collision was stretching back to Cumnor and emergency services were called to the scene, but delays have now cleared.

South Central Ambulance Service said it was called to the collision at 7.21am and one female driver was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with minor injuries. 

Stagecoach Oxfordshire said both the crash and roadworks caused 'heavy delays' on its S1 bus service this morning.

Burst pipes have been a persistent issue in Botley Road in recent years.

In July engineers coned off part of the road after a leak in almost exactly the same spot, also causing standstill traffic before the issue was fixed overnight.

READ AGAIN: Botley Road back to normal after emergency Thames Water works completed

The following month, a broken sewer pipe - also at the junction with Ferry Hinksey Road - also prompted days of roadworks. 

Thames Water has insisted there is not a wider issue with mains pipes on Botley Road, however, and said the recent leaks have mostly been on connections between the mains pipe and individual properties.

A spokeswoman added that as our part of the company's work to reduce leakage, its engineers are currently repairing a record 1,400 leaks each week.