Improvements to a major junction on the A34 have been given the green light.

Oxfordshire County Council has given the go-ahead to a planned upgrade to the Lodge Hill Interchange on the A34.

The project will provide "safer and easier active travel options for future inhabitants of planned developments in north Abingdon", said the council.

The work is set to improve junction capacity, as well as make cycling and walking safer in the area.

New south-facing slip roads will be added to the A34, and there will be cycle and pedestrian safety improvements, as well as layby upgrades on the A34.

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The junction between Abingdon and Oxford currently has north-facing slips only.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for travel and development strategy, said: “The approval of this application is fantastic news, as securing planning consent a key milestone in moving forward with this project.

“The proposed work aims to improve connectivity from the north of Abingdon to the town centre and make it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport as part of their daily routine.

"It will reduce traffic through Abingdon, making walking and cycling in the town safer and easier."

Oxford Mail: Plans for the Lodge Hill Interchange Plans for the Lodge Hill Interchange (Image: Oxford Mail)

He added: “Oxfordshire needs a modern, reliable, affordable and sustainable transport system.

"The wider Science Vale area will see significant growth in the coming years and investment is needed now so that the transport network can meet the demands that will be placed upon it in the future.”  

The county council held a public consultation in early 2021 to gather initial feedback on the scheme.

Revised proposals based on the consultation were included in the planning application.

In addition, as part of a wider package of transport measures surrounding the site, traffic calming measures are also proposed north of the Lodge Hill junction.

These measures will be brought forward by Oxfordshire County Council separately to the Lodge Hill scheme, as they will only require amendments to existing road infrastructure.

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Planning approval for the project was granted through a county council delegated decision, following submission of the original planning application in October 2022 and a supplementary submission to support the application earlier this year.

The scheme is funded from several sources including contributions from developers, Growth Deal and funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

However, a review of the scheme in 2022 identified a funding gap.

The council said it is "engaging with Homes England to secure additional funding that will help accelerate the detailed design process and enable construction to begin".