The Lodge Hill bridge over the A34 is closed this week (from Sunday, October 27th, to the morning of Saturday, November 2nd). The work to waterproof the bridge includes replacing expansion joints, kerbs, and resurfacing. There are also signs about Asbestos removal. The closure has been planned for half term and aims to minimise disruption and avoid frequent roadworks during the colder months.
Buses and residents are being allowed over the bridge. Cyclist and pedestrians are being led around the work. But a lot of vehicles are trying to go that way and being turned back.
The increased traffic congestion in West St Helen Street and Drayton Road, not typical for a half-term week, is a likely consequence of the bridge closure. Motorists who would normally join the A34 at Lodge Hill are rerouting via the Marcham Road, and slowing the traffic flow from South Abingdon heading north.
However, the unexpected congestion has a bright side. Once the full diamond interchange at Lodge Hill is completed, less traffic will use the Marcham Road route and lessen congestion along Drayton Road and West St Helen Street.
But then if congestion improves, more people will start using the Drayton Road instead of other routes. You can probably never win with so many cars on the road.
I went early (07.15) on Wednesday to Lodge Hill to meet a friend off the X3 bus from Oxford. I was amazed at how many drivers ignored the road closure warnings and drove as though to cross the bridge only to be turned back.
As more houses are built, there will be an inevitable increase in traffic density. I fear you are right: congestion will not be magically solved by the full diamond, welcome though it is.
Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill the time available.
Parkinson’s Second Law: Traffic expands to fill the roads available.
Much of Abingdon’s ‘rush hour’ traffic is due to daily journeys to and from most parts of the town to destinations south (Didcot, Newbury, etc) having to stop/start/filter through the town’s internal road system. If you were going to start Abingdon from scratch you wouldn’t build it all to one side of its major trunk road. The diamond interchange will be a major plus to improve the town’s traffic flow as would be the return of the inner, one-way ring-road (Stert Street, High Street, Stratton Way).
Newcomer, the A34 Abingdon bypass a relatively new addition. The road originally came down the Oxford Road, vineyard, Sterrt St, Ock Street and left town by the Drayton Road and so generally routed through the middle of the town.
As I can see it no work has started on the diamond interchange as yet.
The refurbishment of the bridge over the A34 not being a clue?
Hah Hah 🙂
It’s not a clue. The refurbishment/repairs on the bridge is a piece of work in its own right. The diamond interchange is edging closer but is not yet a done deal.
This is all the prep work being done to it first – the main construction starts in February.
That is not yet confirmed. The current work is essential repairs, not prep work.
You might want to check one.network – its scheduled in already.
As I’ve said before, the southbound access roads should have been put at the Wooton Road/Dunmore Road junction. It would have served far more people. Living near the SpreadEagle I doubt if I would want to add a couple more miles to my journey south by first going north to lodge hill.