WORK on a £3.5m project to help traffic flow on the Oxford bypass and the A34 will begin this month.

Thames Water will divert a water main underneath the Kennington roundabout to allow Oxfordshire County Council to turn it into a “hamburger roundabout”, so called because it has a road running through the centre of it. County council workmen will then be on site for six months from May when the construction work gets under way.

Hamburger conversions at the Heyford Hill and Green Road roundabouts have already made a big difference to traffic flows.

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “The effect of this kind of scheme can be seen in places such as the Heyford Hill where a similar scheme has alleviated traffic congestion significantly and made the junction easier to negotiate.”

More lanes will be created for westbound traffic approaching the Kennington roundabout, separating traffic heading into the city along Abingdon Road and vehicles heading towards the A34.

There will also be a new westbound lane from the Kennington roundabout towards the southbound A34.