A34 closure announced for junction slip roads scheme

Oxfordshire County Council is working with contractors to create the new interchange for drivers at the junction north of Abingdon and the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

There have been a series of alterations as a result of the work and drivers are now being alerted to a major hold-up.

From June 3, the northbound on-slip to the A34 will be closed for about four weeks.

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The junction at Lodge Hill at present only has north-facing slip roads, but the upgrade will add new south-facing slip roads, as well as making cycling and walking easier and safer in the area.

Traffic on the A34 near the Lodge Hill junction (Image: Ed Nix)

Adding the south-facing slip roads will reduce traffic in the town centre as some drivers will no longer have to travel through it to access the A34 southbound at the Marcham Interchange.

Highways bosses say stage one and stage two of the work has now been completed, with stage three about to get under way. The entire project is expected to be completed later this year.

Stage three involves:

• A34 northbound on slip realignment takes place and construction of north and south roundabout central sections.

• Continue construction of new A34 northbound off slip and new A34 southbound on slip.

• North roundabout verge works.

A county council spokesman said: “From June 3, the northbound on-slip to the A34 will be closed, for a period of approximately four weeks.

“The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week during this period.

“The closure will facilitate the construction and tie-in of the existing slip road to the new north roundabout.

“A diversion route will be in place via the A4183 Oxford Road. Vehicles wishing to travel northbound on the A34 will need to use the Hinksey Hill interchange.

“A similar closure for the southbound off-slip will follow in early July. Further details of this will be communicated closer to the time.”

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran (Image: Contributed)

The interchange scheme near Abingdon is primarily funded by a £17m-plus grant from Homes England’s Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land (BIL) fund, with additional funding from developer contributions and the Housing Growth Deal.

In July last year it emerged that the budget for the work had risen to £36.09m to address rising costs.

For years, local councillors and Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, pressed the Government for the funding to allow the junction scheme to go ahead.