Oxford traffic: Commuters warn A34 delays will cost lives

Concerns have also been raised that lives are being put at risk as emergency services struggled to get through the traffic. On Tuesday morning, the A34 northbound was clogged between Abingdon[1] and the Hinksey Hill interchange adding around 25 minutes onto people's journeys. Botley Road is currently closed at the rail bridge[3], forcing motorists to find an alternative route into the city.

This has led to increased volume of traffic using the Oxford ring road around the edge of the city. One motorist Will Bayliss explained that his commute from Chipping Norton to Oxford had increased from 36 minutes to an hour-and-a-half to two hours. He said: "I have experienced much higher traffic on the way to work in the past two weeks and despite looking at alternative routes, it is impossible to avoid."

Mr Bayliss was particularly concerned when he saw an ambulance stuck for 20 minutes in the queue for North Oxford Corridor roadworks. He added: "It was really quite bad- the ambulance couldn't move because it was single file traffic.

"This coupled with Botley road closure is costing lives." In March, Oxfordshire County[4] Council cabinet member for highways Andrew Gant assured that he would work to keep Oxford moving during the closure. Last week, the council said that they were monitoring the situation.

Darren Butler, an electrician from Kildington tweeted yesterday (April 25) that it currently takes him less time to drive into London or Birmingham, than from his house to the city centre. To hell with Oxford and the clowns running it into the ground from their ivory tower at @OxfordshireCC. I can drive into London or Birmingham in less time than it takes to drive from Kidlington to City Centre.

I'm abandoning working here.#LTN[5][6]

The traffic is currently affecting his work and he also warned that Oxford residents are likely to see price rises as traders are forced to take into account the extra time it takes to travel to jobs. Mr Butler said: "The situation has become pretty much untenable. "It is just awful trying to find different routes to escape the standstill.

A county council spokeswoman said: "Oxfordshire County Council continues to monitor traffic issues, especially in light of the closure of the Botley Road at the railway bridge, to establish how behaviours have changed so that mitigation can be provided. "Today's traffic situation was exacerbated by emergency gas roadworks on Hollow Way. "Highways officers are investigating ways of mitigating this situation.

"Although we are restricting roadworks on outlying areas that are predicted to be affected by the closure, emergency work must be allowed to commence for safety reasons.

"As highways authority, we will continue to work with the emergency services on contingency plans while Botley Road is closed."

References

1. ^ Abingdon (www.heraldseries.co.uk)
2. ^ Boy in hospital with 'potentially life-changing' injuries after shooting (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
3. ^ Botley Road is currently closed at the rail bridge (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
4. ^ County (www.heraldseries.co.uk)
5. ^ @OxfordshireCC (twitter.com)
6. ^ #LTN (twitter.com)
7. ^ April 25, 2023 (twitter.com)
8. ^ Man hospitalised after incident on railway line (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)