A334
A334 | |||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||
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From: | Wickham (SU573110) | ||||||
To: | Bitterne (SU451130) | ||||||
Distance: | 9.1 miles (14.6 km) | ||||||
Meets: | A32, A3051, M27, A27, A3024 | ||||||
Former Number(s): | A27, A333 | ||||||
Old route now: | B3035, B3036 | ||||||
Primary Destinations | |||||||
Highway Authorities | |||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||
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The A334 is a non primary and mostly single carriageway road in south Hampshire.
The road starts at Wickham on the former A333 route, which explains the TOTSO with the now-B2177 at Shedfield (the original eastern end of the A334). Then it runs along a route through countryside to Botley with a mix of 40/50 limits and rumble strips along it. Coming back into suburban areas, it passes the station and the HGV testing centre just before collecting the A3051 from Swanwick (of air traffic control "fame") from the left. It then passes Botley mill and passes through Botley proper - look out for the 150 year old town hall on your left.
Past Botley it effectively passes through Southampton suburbs, taking in a small maze of roundabouts (and the only dualled section) before the junction with the M27, followed by the A27. Then it's a straight, but slow road down the hill and back up the hill to Bitterne where it meets the dual A3024 at a set of traffic lights, which takes you into Southampton City Centre.
As a whole, the road is a good alternative to the M27 from Fareham to Southampton when traffic gets gnarled up in the morning.
History
In 1922 the A334 only ran between the A333 in Shedfield and the original line of the A27 in Botley. As a consequence of the Bursledon Bridge being rebuilt and having its tolls removed, it was extended in 1930 via a multiplex along the A27 into Bitterne, essentially giving the road its current route.
The road gained a spur after the A27 was rerouted in 1935. The road south of Botley became the A3051 and the road west as far as Hatch Bottom became a spur of the A27. It was renumbered to A334 in 1949. This was lost in the 1970s, becoming the B3035, and the A333 was downgraded in the early 1980s, allowing the A334 to reach the A32.
The diversion to reach the M27 was constructed with the opening of that road to junction 7 in 1978.