A34 - Improve this road NOW !

[Johnathan404]

I have heard that roadworks are currently taking place to close the staggered crossroads where two farm accesses join the A34 near Tufton Warren.

As a project it is a very small one, but it is significant because it means there are now no gaps in a central reservation between Winnall and Wendlebury (aside from the silly junction at Kings Worthy). It had hung on so long I had assumed it was here to stay, or at least until the remaining safety issues on the A34 had been resolved.

I have seen tractors cross the road here, but wonder whether sending them up to the nearest junction and back is actually a lot more dangerous.

Will space be left for the camera van which is regularly parked here?

I would give you an official link to the Highways England website, but unfortunately it appears to be impossible to use.

[andrewwoods]

Most collisions occur on the stretch between Oxford and Bicester

ACCORDING to analysis carried out for Highways England, 462 collisions happened on the the A34 between the M4 and M40 from January 2011 to November 2016. These included:

32 collisions at the A34/M40 Wendlebury Interchange
42 collisions on the northbound carriageway between A44 Pear Tree and the M40
8 collisions on the Kidlington southbound slip road
15 collisions on the northbound carriageway to the south of the South Hinksey
17 collisions on the northbound carriageway to the south of the Milton Interchange
11 collisions on the northbound carriageway to the south of East Isley
7 collisions on the northbound carriageway to the south of Beedon. On that stretch of the road, the findings also showed 22 per cent of crashes happened on unlit sections. This was above the national average of 18 per cent.

Published in the Oxford Mail.

[Nicholas]

I have heard that roadworks are currently taking place to close the staggered crossroads where two farm accesses join the A34 near Tufton Warren.

The works are for barrier replacement either side of the crossroads.

[andrewwoods]

I have heard that roadworks are currently taking place to close the staggered crossroads where two farm accesses join the A34 near Tufton Warren.

The works are for barrier replacement either side of the crossroads.

It certainly looks as though the crossings are being removed.

Wonder if they'll fill in the missing length of barrier between the crossings and Bullington Cross?

[J6onM27]

I have heard that roadworks are currently taking place to close the staggered crossroads where two farm accesses join the A34 near Tufton Warren.

The works are for barrier replacement either side of the crossroads.

The work is completed at Tufton. Now back to national speed limit...

[jedikiah]

Most collisions occur on the stretch between Oxford and Bicester ...

And northbound. The underlying reason for many of these is plain to see in that nearly all the sliproads northbound north of Oxford are far too short. Sad really in this is the newest section of the road, indicating that it was built to too low a spec. The Newbury bypass suffers similarly.

The Wendlebury Interchange is interesting as how ever it is configured it seems to cause problems. The latest incarnation hasn't solved much safety-wise and the short three lane section southbound seems to cause more potential for accidents.

[Nicholas]

The gap has indeed been closed. And all evidence of its existance has been eliminated.

[Johnathan404]

I happened to be passing yesterday so can confirm that it's done, but also managed to catch somebody using it!

[jedikiah]

Announced today that £18m is to be provided by the government to cover the cost of a new diamond junction on the A34 at Lodge Hill in Abingdon.

This has been re-announced today, with the government now only putting up half of the money with the rest being covered by developers and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Still no start date though.

[andrewwoods]

Of course, it isn't a new junction, just adding south-facing slip roads to what's already there.

[SteveA30]

Useful but, it will create a new rat run along the old A34 to the Hinksey junction, during rush hours. Useful also as an accident diversion for that section, without having to go through Abingdon.

[jedikiah]

Of course, it isn't a new junction, just adding south-facing slip roads to what's already there.

There will certainly be some remodelling of the existing access, as done at Chilton if only to fit in with the development.

[jackal]

"Fresh call for improvements to save lives on the A34 as traffic levels past Oxford at highest ever"

http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/15441 ... nts-anchor

[DavidB]

From BBC News:

A34 safety review: Highways England proposes improvements

[jackal]

Planning permission for the full dumbbell at Lodge Hill (replacing a half diamond) was granted in September. £17.3million from Homes England and a D&B contract with Balfour Beatty were recently secured, with construction to start early next year.
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/resident ... nterchange

[KeithW]

Most collisions occur on the stretch between Oxford and Bicester ...

And northbound. The underlying reason for many of these is plain to see in that nearly all the sliproads northbound north of Oxford are far too short. Sad really in this is the newest section of the road, indicating that it was built to too low a spec. The Newbury bypass suffers similarly.

The Wendlebury Interchange is interesting as how ever it is configured it seems to cause problems. The latest incarnation hasn't solved much safety-wise and the short three lane section southbound seems to cause more potential for accidents.

That is pretty common for many A Roads including the A1 and A2

Examples
A1
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7861403 ... &entry=ttu

A1 Great Ponton
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.8632251 ... &entry=ttu

A1 Tweedmouth
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.7469634 ... &entry=ttu

A2 Lydden Hill
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1745205 ... &entry=ttu