Lib Dem Concerns about A34 Diversion through Abingdon

12.22.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Jun 2008

Liberal Democrats have called for careful monitoring of the A34 highway works to minimise disruption and noise.

Alan Bryden, County Councillor for Abingdon North, said: "I am sure that residents will welcome the long overdue improvements to the A34 which will, hopefully, reduce the noise levels - for which Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for many years. But there are concerns about how the Abingdon ring road will cope with the busy volumes of A34 overnight traffic, especially the large number of heavy goods vehicles, whilst the works are happening."

Lesley Legge, County Councillor for Abingdon East, said: "We have pressed for early warning notices to be put up in plenty of time and far enough away from these works to allow drivers to find sensible alternative routes - even out of county if necessary. I would hope that the Highways Agency would help with this.

"It is not only the numbers but the noise problems for residents living close which will be disruptive. The town centre will also suffer if the traffic volumes are too large as traffic jams can easily develop along Marcham Road where the ring road joins it.

"I hope that both the Highways Agency and the County Council will do all in their power to reduce the problems whilst what is necessary work is carried out."

Notes:

The work involves some major larger depth working to improve the foundations of the A34 because of the volume of traffic it carries. The new road surface will be a special low noise surface. The work will also include improved drainage work, improved barrier and fences and the Highways Agency will allow the District Council to litter pick at the same time. (It is unclear why the Highways Agency is not itself responsible for litter picking on their important trunk roads as they are for motorways, especially because the litter picking can only happen when the Highways Agency gives permission.)

The Highways Agency and its contractor, Mott MacDonalds, have agreed to increase the workforce to speed up the process. They are also not going to use the A415 through Marcham for this work. The new diversion will follow Marcham Road, Colwell Drive, Copenhagen Drive, Dunmore Road and the A4183 from Lodge Hill Roundabout to the North Abingdon junction. On three nights, it will include the extra section of A4183 that goes to Hinksey interchange near Oxford.

The Highways Agency seems to be pressing on with other A34 works before the new Wolvercote viaduct work is started. There is uncertainty around when the Abingdon stretch of the A34 work will begin but it will be known when the Agency have finalised its revised programme. The Highways Agency has agreed with OCC that they will multi task and revise the programme to reduce night closures and increase resources. When the work starts the diversions are expected to be between 10 pm and 6 am.