Anyone travelling north on Stratton Way this week will have seen the warning sign: ‘Major Works on A4183 Severe Delays Expected Use Alt Route.‘ Between the town centre and the Lodge Hill junction, there were three separate sets of roadworks today.
From the Peachcroft roundabout up towards the A34 junction, two sets of temporary traffic lights are in place. One set is connected to the new housing development, the other to work on the A34 slip road. They are hopefully being coordinated so that traffic released from one doesn’t gridlock the other.
Closer to town, and more temporary, Abbott Road was being resurfaced today. Crews were working on the junction with the A4183, using manual stop/go boards while lorries moved and tarmac was laid.
It made for a slow journey along the A4183. The number A4183 isn’t very memorable. Oxford Road is easier. The A4183 used to be the A34 until 1973, when the dual carriageway opened and the old route through Abingdon got a new number. Sitting in the 4 zone between the A4 and A5, A4183 was used. This is where West Bromwich and Evesham come in. The A4182 is in West Bromwich and A4184 is in Evesham. So Abingdon’s Oxford Road sits between them in the sequence.
By the way, Evesham’s Regal Cinema is a sister venue to Abingdon’s Abbey Cinema, operated by the same team. So perhaps they are at home with the A4183.
It’s rather irritating, but it is temporary. I take a deep breath and count to 110.
It could be interesting when Ock Street is blocked off by the Fair next week …
It’s usually better when the fair is on as no-one tries to go through the town centre!
Thesiger Road too! All done.
How long will all this be going on for?
A34 interchange should be completed by Christmas – they are absolutely on schedule.
The work near the roundabout at the bottom of the hill does seem to be taking rather long.
Q: How long is a piece of string?
A: Twice as long as half its length.
Total chaos in Abingdon Town centre this evening – 3 way traffic light’s outside Coxeters – backing up the complete town centre, Bridge St, Ock Street etc – then 2 fire engines were trying to get down Stratton Way and idiot motorists not paying attention and just laughed at me when I gestured them to pull over – nightmare and buses all over the place – no hope of keeping anywhere near the timetable – Abingdon/Council’s/Utility companies are just a joke – so much chaos – no doubt tomorrow will be the same.
Well Bob, I drove through the Ock Street/High Street/Stratton Way debacle this morning (06:00) and I think your description is quite calm and measured … :o)
Combined with the organised chaos at Lodge Hill and The Fair being in situ the coming Sunday to early Wednesday I hope the genii in local authorities’ road and planning have something up their sleeve to resolve the situation … perhaps it’ll be just in (overtime) planning?