A34/Winchester - Oxford
A34 | ||||||||||
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From: | Winchester | |||||||||
To: | Oxford | |||||||||
Route outline (key) | ||||||||||
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For rest of the road, see A34.
Between Winchester and Wendlebury, the A34 is a fast two-lane dual carriageway, collecting traffic from the ports and cities on the south coast from the M3 and amongst other roads, meeting the A303, M4, A40 and M40, which takes traffic to the Midlands. It is entirely trunk route.
Route
From its start at Winchester, the A34 serves Whitchurch, Newbury, Didcot, Abingdon, Oxford and Kidlington, before ending just short of Bicester.
History
Although most of this bit of the A34 was built as an offline upgrade, it generally takes the same route as it always has, the change being that all the towns along the route are now bypassed. Because of this, a clear “old route” can be traced in the shadow of today's A34.
Future
The section from the M4 to M40 forms part of the study area for the Oxford to Cambridge expressway - an interim report was published in August 2016.
Notable Locations
Newbury Bypass
The Newbury Bypass was one of the most notorious roads ever built, being the first major project after the completion of the equally controversial Twyford Down. Shortly before construction started protesters took over the proposed route of the bypass and began a long fight to try to stop the road being built.
Oxford Ring Road
As the A34 bypasses Oxford, it picks up the Oxford Ring Road and takes it round the western flank of the city. It is here where the A34 passes through its only urban area at Hinksey.
Wolvercote Viaduct
The Wolvercote Viaduct is a 1960s viaduct just south of the Peartree Interchange, and it is currently being replaced by a similar structure as part of a five-year roadworks project.
Opening Dates
Please note that not all opening dates are known so some are missing or are a little vague in places.
Month | Year | Section | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
August | 2004 | Chieveley Interchange | Dual carriageway underpass |
November | 1998 | Newbury Bypass | Dual carriageway bypass |
1990 | Hampton Poyle - Wendlebury | Dual carriageway, former single carriageway A43/A421 | |
1990 | Kidlington Bypass | Dual carriageway bypass | |
1980s | East Ilsley - Chilton | Dual carriageway realignment | |
1985 | Sutton Scotney Bypass | Dual carriageway bypass and realignment | |
1980 | Chieveley Bypass | Dual carriageway bypass | |
1970s | Chilton - Abingdon | Dual carriageway realignment | |
1970s | Bullington - Newbury | Dual carriageway realignment, with a single carriageway bypass of Whitchurch | |
1978 | Abingdon - Oxford | Dual carriageway bypass | |
1960s | Ilsley Bypass | Dual carriageway bypass | |
1969 | Winchester Bypass | Dual carriageway bypass connecting it to the A33 Winchester Bypass | |
1962 | Oxford Western Bypass | Dual carriageway bypass |
Links
gov.uk
- Oxford to Cambridge expressway strategic study: interim report (18 August 2016)