DRIVERS on Banbury Road were met by the sight of cones today as four months of gas main replacement works began.

Gas network company SGN has estimated its team will take until the end of May to renew existing gas mains, with work being completed in stages over the next 17 weeks.

The works begin metres from the Cutteslowe roundabout, meaning motorists coming into Oxford from the north should expect delays.

Read again: Call for action on Botley Road after roadworks chaos

The first stage takes place over the next three weeks and will see one lane closed between Upland Park Road and Apsley Road, with traffic using the bus lane.

Old metal pipe will be replaced by new plastic pipe during the works, which will move towards the city centre, eventually finishing by the junction of Rogers Street.

Oxford Mail:

Oxfordshire County Council previously said the 'essential' works would ensure a 'continued safe and reliable gas supply to the local area for many years to come'.

The council has worked with SGN to minimise delays, with temporary two-way traffic lights to be manually controlled between 7am and 7pm.

Read again: Gas works set to cause delays on Banbury Road

County Councillor Yvonne Constance, cabinet member for environment, previously said: “Nobody looks forward to major utility work like this, but without SGN doing their gas main replacement local supplies would be at risk.

“The best advice is to allow extra time if you really need to use Banbury Road and, if it’s not essential, consider other routes or different modes of transport.”