DRIVERS reported ‘chaotic’ scenes on a major Oxford route overnight due to an apparent lack of signage.

Several cars were seen performing U-turns near the railway bridge in Botley Road on Wednesday night, where a closure is in place because of emergency repairs. by electricity company SSEN

One driver claimed poor signage was the cause, suggesting the location and timing of the works were not obvious to drivers heading towards the city centre.

The key route has been shut between 8pm and 5am every night since Tuesday, with the work set to take 10 nights overall.

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The closure is in place between the junctions of Beckett Street and Roger Dudman Way, after a fault occurred on the 11kv cable between the Osney Mead and Holly Bush Row substations.

This put the supply of up to 325 customers in danger. Once complete the works will overlay 130m of cable.

Traffic on the road has been particularly slow this week due to other roadworks at the junction with Ferry Hinksey Road, carried out by gas company SGN.

Read also: £9.1m Botley Road works could start next spring

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Ferry Hinksey Road, which has caused rush hour queues.

An SSEN spokesperson did not respond to claims of poor signage, but said: “We are currently carrying out essential repairs to a section of cable on Botley road following a fault.

"In order to do this safely we are carrying out the works while the road is closed overnight, between 8pm and 5am.

"Our aim is always to minimise disruption, while maximising the safety of our colleagues and our customers who may be in the vicinity of the works.

"We would like to thank our customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused as our engineers work to repair this fault as quickly and as safely as possible.”