SAFETY measures to cut accidents and congestion on the A34 could be implemented as part of an improvement project by Highways England
Motorists face regular accidents and hours-long delays on the dual carriageway, which runs between Oxfordshire and Hampshire.
A series of changes could be made by Highways England on the Oxfordshire and West Berkshire stretch of the A34 between the M4, at Chieveley near Newbury, and M40 near Bicester.
The review comes as plans are, at least temporarily, shelved for a new Oxford-Cambridge Expressway.
When the website for the much-discussed A34 project went live, North Abingdon councillor Emily Smith said: “While the Expressway is paused, the Department for Transport has commissioned Highways England to carry out a study of ways to improve safety and congestion on the A34.
“It is early stages, and we are a year off formal public consultation, but there is a website now live for the project.
“It is strange that the safety improvements promised in the run up to the 2017 General Election were not implemented, and they have lots of data from the Expressway modelling – one to keep an eye on.”
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A safety review was carried out by the Government agency in 2017 and detailed designs were due to be unveiled last year.
It was confirmed by the Department for Transport last year that there were 3,412 casualties between 2013 and 2017 on the dual carriageway, including 45 deaths.
The move comes after a number of recent devastating collisions where people have lost their lives.
They include Cambridge graduate Oliver Williams, 27, who died on October 2 when his grey Volkswagen Polo left the carriageway.
The incident happened just after an exit for Abingdon Road near East Ilsley. The car crashed into a fence.
A brief statement on the website read: “We know that people want to see improvements to the A34, north and south of Oxford.
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“Congestion on the road leads to unreliable journey times.
“This disrupts people’s lives and their travel plans for both business and leisure.”
To learn more visit highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/a34-improvements-north-and-south-of-oxford
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