THE worst is yet to come for Headington motorists, a councillor has warned, after the Christmas pause came to an end on two extensive roadwork projects in the area.

A major 23-month road improvement project, ‘Access to Headington’, was launched at a cost of £12.5m near to the Churchill Hospital in October.

A month later work began on another, simultaneous project; to install a 2.2km pipeline connecting the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals right through the heart of Headington, expected to be complete in April.

Motorists were given a welcome break from the two projects over the festive season with a pause on both over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

The respite ended on Tuesday, however, and work is now back up and running and causing further traffic problems for residents and people commuting from further afield.

Councillor Roz Smith said: “It has caused disruption both for local people and for those visiting the Headington area. It has also had an impact on visitors to the hospitals in our area.

“I think with regard to Access to Headington at Old Road that has seen some of the longest hold-ups since work started.

“Whatever work is going on you are going to have some delays and I understand that there have been some issues with delays for buses.

“What I am worried about is when work starts at Headley Way that will cause worse disruption for those living in Headington and coming into the area from away.

“With regard to the hospital pipeline, the council has tried to work very closely to make sure diversion signs are in the right place.”

Councillor Ruth Wilkinson said that the works had gone relatively smoothly and that disruption had not been as bad as expected. She said: “I think all in all people have been quite positive and they just want to get it done as soon as possible and they just want it over.”

Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for the Access to Headington works, said on its blog that work was progressing well.

It will continue in the new year, with the construction of new pedestrian crossing islands at the Old Road and Gipsy Lane and Roosevelt Drive and Warneford Lane junctions.

In February resurfacing work will begin on the same stretch.

The pipeline project is expected to be completed by contractors Vital Energi in April while Access to Headington is expected to continue until at least September 2018.

Detailed plans for the further phases that will take place for the project beyond March 2017 are yet to be announced.