A34 Safety in RIS3 – This is Not the End of the Road

The decision not to commit to further A34 improvements in the Government’s Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) is deeply disappointing. This is one of the South and South East’s most important transport corridors - a key economic artery that supports tens of thousands of commuters, local businesses, and emergency services on a daily basis. 

Yet it continues to fall short on basic safety and, due to the Government’s decision, will do so for years to come. This is unacceptable. 

Residents across Newbury and West Berkshire have consistently shared stories of treacherous journeys caused by poor visibility, a lack of speed-enforcement measures, and a litany of dangerous slip roads. After launching a constituency-wide survey last year, 95% of residents backed urgent action and over 90% reported dangerous experiences at key slip roads such as East Isley and Beedon. 

These are known high-risk areas, and the lived experience of constituents could not make this clearer. 

As the A34 weaves its way through multiple constituencies in the Southeast, this has never been party political. For over a year, I have worked with neighbouring MPs to pressure the Department for Transport – writing to, and personally meeting with, Ministers and National Highways to push for tangible improvements. 

The decision is particularly disappointing as progress was being made, a targeted National Highways safety study is underway of safety slip roads on the A34 alongside constructive correspondence with the Minster for Roads and Buses.  

Despite this setback, this decision is not the end of the road. In the next few weeks, I will speak to fellow MPs and continue to press Ministers for wider action.