OVERNIGHT roadworks will take place along the M40 through Oxfordshire from this Friday.

The Highways Agency is to replace traffic detection loops along the motorway between junctions six and nine in a bid to cut congestion.

So-called Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling (or MIDAS) loops are used across the motorway network to detect traffic volume and set variable message boards with little human intervention.

Between this Friday and Friday, May 31, the Highways Agency will be working overnight from 10pm to 8am to replace the loops.

While the work is taking place the northbound and southbound entry slip roads at junctions six, seven, 8a and nine will be closed.

Northbound and southbound Oxford Spurs leading to and from the A40 at junction eight will also be closed as well.

Also closed will be the southbound carriageway between the exit and entry slip roads at junction nine and the southbound carriageway between the entry slip road at junction nine and the entry slip road at junction eight.

The southbound carriageway north of junction nine, from a point 300m north of the Middleton Stoney Road overbridge for a distance of 3.8km south will be closed.

Each of these closures is expected to be for one night only.

During the slip road closures traffic wishing to enter or leave the M40 will be diverted on or off the motorway at the nearest open slip road and return to the original junction via the opposite carriageway.

n Resurfacing work began on the eastern bypass last night.

Oxfordshire County Council work is being carried out overnight between the Kiln Lane junction and Green Road roundabout in Headington.

A temporary 10mph will be in place while work continues tonight and the next three nights, from 8pm to 5am.