OXFORD – As always, the start of the new school year heralds an escalation in traffic, but this year residents and travelers through the Village of Oxford might need a refresher course in the hazards of a congested detour. With the Oxford Main Street bridge unfinished, drivers are still funneling into the narrow confines of the Albany Street detour.

The diciest segment of the detour, where Route 220 intersects country Road 32, has always been “a major concern,” said Oxford Fire Chief Mike Cobb.

“A lot of people just do not realize how fast they are going coming down the hill,” Mayor Terry Stark said. “It has always been a dangerous intersection, but people say it has been compounded by the detour,” he continued.

The discovery of a major crack in the foundation of the old bridge more than a decade ago laid the groundwork for its inevitable demise late last year. After months of work, detours and inconvenience, it is nearing its completion – now scheduled for the end of September or early October.