A34 Safety Study Nears Completion

When the Government decided not to take forward the wider A34 North and South of Oxford scheme in the Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), it was understandably disappointing. 

However, this wasn’t the end of the conversation. Major upgrades had been swept aside, but there were still important questions to answer about what could be done to improve safety now. 

After following up with the Minister for Roads and writing to National Highways, I met with officials earlier this week to seek answers on the progress of their A34 Safety Study.

There was some encouraging news.

National Highways confirmed that the long-awaited study covering key junctions and slip roads at East Ilsley, Beedon, and Chieveley will be finalised in the next few weeks. The study has examined a range of measures, from larger interventions to lower-cost measures such as signage, road markings, and other operational changes to improve the route. 

The next step is key. Once the study is complete, National Highways will present its recommendations to Ministers at the Department for Transport, who will then decide which improvements should be taken forward. 

While funding remains tight and no changes aren’t guaranteed, this is positive progress and National Highways have acknowledged that there is scope for upgrades. 

So once that study is complete, I will be scrutinising the findings closely and lobbying Ministers hard to ensure this study translates into practical measures on the route. 

Residents across West Berkshire and the wider South East need a safer A34, and I’ll keep pushing to make that happen.