It is the nightmare on A34 street - and it will continue long after Hallowe'en is over, write MATT CHILDE and JO HILLIER. The western by-pass in Oxford will be closed to all northbound traffic, between the Botley and Peartree interchanges, for five weeks from midnight on Friday as major roadworks get under way.

The message to motorists is clear. Stay off the dual carriageway near Oxford or prepare to be stuck in a traffic jam. "We cannot stress enough how important it is that all users of the A34 rethink their journeys," said Richard Dix, chief highways engineer for Oxfordshire County Council. "If local people try to use the A34 they will get caught up in traffic."

The £3.7m roadworks involve demolishing and rebuilding the weak Seacourt Stream Bridge - which means closing two lanes of the dual carriageway at a time. All northbound traffic will be directed off the A34 at the Hinksey Hill interchange and diverted around the eastern and northern by-passes to Peartree. Southbound traffic will remain on the A34 but will be subject to a 50mph speed limit.

The longest tailbacks are expected to be south of the Hinksey Hill roundabout as traffic waits to leave the A34.

To give an idea of the size of traffic jams they expect, highways officials originally proposed closing the A34 to southbound traffic at Peartree instead, but police opposed the move, fearing tailbacks to the M40 junction more than six miles away.

Officers are now preparing themselves for an increase in accidents as stressed motorists become frustrated by delays.

Insp Mike Williamson, of Bicester traffic base, said: "We believe there will be long tailbacks during the roadworks and sensible motorists should leave their car at home.

If this is not practical then people should allow plenty of time for their journeys and try to remain patient."

He added: "We will monitor the traffic flow and do everything we can to alleviate problems, but we need the public to help us avoid accidents." The Highways Agency has produced a leaflet providing details of diversions, with details of train times from Didcot to Oxford. It is available by calling 0345 504030.

Oxfordshire County Council does not expect a major increase in traffic on other roads in Oxford - but is urging motorists entering the city from all directions to use public transport.

One fear is that commuters entering the city from the north, via the A34 and Botley Road, will clog up city centre roads going home.

Mr Dix said: "We expect people with local knowledge to avoid the A34 by using local roads and we have tried to limit roadworks on other main roads in the city as a result."

Highways Agency spokesman, Howard Cohen, added: "We cannot think of every scenario. There comes a point when people will have to plan their own journeys and anticipate problems." TAKING STRAIN OFF THE ROADS

People who usually drive into Oxford are advised to use Buses or trains during major roadworks on the A34.

Thames Trains now runs a frequent service between Didcot Parkway and Oxford - 12 trains from 6.49am to 9.55am then three trains an hour until 3.51pm. Fast trains take just 11 minutes. The first train from Bicester Town via Islip to Oxford leaves at 6.30am and arrives at 6.56am and costs £3.70 for a day return. The next service is at 7.47am and gets to Oxford at 8.13am.

Trains leave Heyford for Tackley and Oxford at 6.59am and 7.13am, arriving at 7.54am and 8.09am. It costs £4.20 for a return.

Those travelling by train from Charlbury via Hanborough to Oxford can get the 6.28am and 6.44am, arriving at 6.52am and 7.07am. It will cost them £4.40 for a return.

People should call 0345 484950 for train times and ticket prices.

The Oxford area is well served by bus routes and a concessionary fare is available on Cityline buses for holders of Thames Trains tickets.

Oxford Bus Company, on 01865 785400, runs 16 frequent Cityline routes including: Kidlington to Oxford, every five minutes, £1.50 return, 25-minute journey; Abingdon to Oxford, every 20 minutes, £2.40 return, 20-minute journey; Didcot to Oxford, hourly, £3.30, 58-minute journey. It also has two cross-city Park and Ride bus routes. Buses cost £1.20 for a day return, run every seven to eight minutes from Redbridge car park in Abingdon Road to Peartree car park in north Oxford and every ten minutes from Seacourt car park in Botley Road to Thornhill car park off the A40, east of Oxford.

Stagecoach, on 01865 772250 - runs a service every 30 minutes from Didcot to Oxford on a 45-minute journey at £2.60 for a day return. Other services include: Wantage to Oxford, every 30 minutes, £3.40 return, 45-minute journey; Abingdon to Oxford, every seven to ten minutes, £2.40 return, 20-minute journey; Bicester to Oxford, every ten to 15 minutes, £3.25 return, 35-minute journey; Kirtlington to Oxford, every 30-60 minutes, £3.15 return, 30-minute journey; Kidlington to Oxford, every seven to eight minutes, £1.50 return, 20-minute journey. TEN TIPS TO SWEETEN THE JAM

*Think of alternative forms of transport for every letter of the alphabet

*Learn the words to your Robbie Williams album

*Give yourself a complete makeover

*Use your mobile phone to find out what the cones hotline actually is

*Write application letters for jobs outside Oxford

*Invent your own gridlock-beating hovercraft

*Treat fellow motorists to a puppet show through your sun roof

*Avoid road rage by listening to a relaxation tape

*Write your Christmas present list

*Play I Spy with the drivers next to you

COPING WITH THE CHAOS

Some businesses in Oxford are not aware of next month's A34 closure, but those who do know hope to avoid peak hour travel.

Toys R Us in Botley Road has delivery lorries arriving from Coventry which will have to put up with one side of the road being shut southbound.

A spokesman for the distribution centre said: "We didn't know it was shutting. We will go and talk to our haulier to ask what he's going to advise his drivers. I assume what we will need to do is come in the early hours."

Robin Farrell, from Co-op's chilled distribution centre in Osney Mead, said the depot had been living with traffic delays in and around Oxford since it opened nine years ago.

He said: "It's very much treating the reality of it rather than the threat. We will be trying to avoid peak hour traffic, we will inform incoming supply firms of the delays and ensure that they are issued with maps for alternative routes. It can't be any worse than the Botley Road. We live with this daily. It's a question of getting on with it, really. Traffic delays are part and parcel of the work."

Eddie Denton, newspaper operations manager for Newsquest (Oxfordshire), which publishes the Oxford Mail, believed the closure of the A34 northbound could affect sales of papers in Bicester.

He said: "It doesn't affect us too badly as we only have a couple of vans that go that way. They will just have to re-route but it certainly is a headache.

"I'm sure people will get their papers later. We can't get vans out earlier - the Bicester van is the second one out, anyway."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.