MAJOR roadworks began this week attempting to eradicate hated traffic jams on the A41 in and out of Bicester.

The road improvements include a new hamburger-style roundabout and synchronised traffic lights at Pingle Drive, near Bicester Village, and the roundabout at the Esso petrol station.

Heading into the bank holiday weekend the preliminary works have started including "trial-hole drilling" overnight, but Oxfordshire County Council has said this is not expected to affect traffic.

For the next month until Friday, June 24, there will be nighttime lane closures for excavation works between both roundabouts on the A41 outside Bicester Village and along the A41 flyover.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith said Bicester as a "growing and successful" town the road improvements aim to meet the town's transport needs for the future.

The works are being carried out by contractors working for Bicester Village ahead of its expansion onto the former Tesco site next door.

Bicester Village spokeswoman Miranda Markham said: "Works have begun, they have been digging out trenches for inspection and also some more substantial work on the Acorn roundabout has also started.

"It is being done overnight as we have a programme of works to try and avoid disruption as much as possible.

"Bicester Village is working with the county council to ensure that disruption caused by the work and traffic management is minimised as far as possible."

From Tuesday, May 31, to Friday, June 3, lanes will be re-lined to narrow them in order to keep lanes open and traffic flowing.

Drainage works are expected to start in early June.

Bicester Traffic Action Group co-chairman Sallie Wright said: "If works have started I hope that they won't cause chaos over the bank holiday weekend and heading into next week.

"Something has got to be done and this is the only thing they have got on the books – it probably will help but I am just concerned about the traffic lights.

"They have showed the plans for a hamburger roundabout and more traffic lights being put in at the roundabout and then the next roundabout and of course you have them already outside the Tesco. To my mind it seems a bit ridiculous in such a short space, it is a bit like overkill.

"They always said these roadworks would be in place before the Bicester Village expansion which looks like it is already underway, so it is a concern that these works have been left so late."