Gridlocked drivers are “crying with anger and frustration” over the apparent lack of work at Botley Interchange, a councillor has said.
Oxford city councillor Susannah Pressel said there never seems to be any workers at the traffic-plagued roundabout to the city’s west.
It comes as drivers accused National Highways of a “lack of urgency” to finish the disruptive works.
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The interchange has been reduced to single lane of traffic for the last four months while repair work takes place.
The work has so far caused traffic misery with five-hours delays and fights between stuck motorists at particularly congested periods.
Ms Pressel, a Labour councillor for Osney and St Thomas, has criticised the lack of workers at the site.
She said: "It’s absolutely appalling the way this work has been organised. I get very regular complaints about this.
"People are almost crying with anger and frustration.
“They wait in long queues, watching others jumping the queue, because nothing seems to be moving – and all the time there is no work taking place.
"It’s unbelievable. Residents ask me things like ‘how can National Highways be so incompetent?’
"Is it because so many of the managers are working from home, so that they don’t seem to know or care what is going on?”
Liam Walker, the Conservative shadow highways chief on Oxfordshire County Council, added: “There is nothing worse than sitting in miles of traffic caused by roadworks only to finally drive past and either see no work taking place or two guys doing something.
"This misery for drivers has got to stop and that’s why I’m pleased the government are reviewing fines for companies that over run their works."
Drivers have also slammed National Highways for the lack of work.
One motorist, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "Having caused weeks of chaos, you'd have thought there might be a sense of urgency about getting the job finished.
“Yet it seems they have just walked off the site, leaving the work half-done.
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"Thankfully the traffic has not been as bad as previously, but we have to wonder how much longer we will have to wait to see that wall of concrete blocks removed and the other lane opened - otherwise the problem will just go on."
Looking to finish the work this month, National Highways has started a period of overnight road closures.
The A34 below the roundabout will be closed from 9pm to 6am every night until Sunday (February 11).
The roundabout itself will be shut to traffic from 9pm to 6am every night from Monday (February 12) until February 29.
National Highways did not respond when asked to comment on the lack of on-site workers.
The company has previously apologised for the disruption caused by the interchange work.
A spokesman said: "Safety is our number one priority, and we apologise for the congestion and inconvenience caused around Botley Interchange.
"The barriers at the roundabout above the A34 need to replaced.”
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