£2.2 Million A34 Improvements Start

7 January 2013, 06:00

Millions of pounds is being spent resurfacing the A34 in West Berkshire.

The 5 week programme on the three-mile stretch between Beedon and Chieveley should take about 5 weeks to complete.

The work will be carried out overnight, and will involve some closures of the northbound carriageway, with southbound traffic being escorted in convoys past the work site.

The £2.2 million scheme should be finished by 9 February with work carried out between 10pm and 6am, Monday to Friday.

Highways Agency project sponsor Guy Watts, said: "The A34 is a strategically important route between the South and the Midlands, and this work will improve both the safety and quality of journeys for the 50,000 drivers who use this stretch every day.

“The work has been carefully planned and so will be carried out overnight when traffic flows are lowest. It has also been planned to minimise disruption by avoiding the need for closures in both directions. 

"However we will need to close the northbound carriageway overnight for 10 nights and then introduce some restrictions southbound. A clearly signed diversion route will be in place for the closures, but drivers, especially those affected by the closures, are urged to leave plenty of extra time for their journeys.”

It is due to start on the northbound carriageway on Monday 7 January for 10 nights. The A34 will be closed from Chieveley (M4 Junction 13) to just north of the Beedon junction. Confirmed dates for these closures will be displayed on black and yellow signs along the A34.

Work on the southbound carriageway will start on Monday 21 January for approximately 12 nights; one lane will be closed with traffic escorted past the work site in convoy; there will be a temporary 40mph limit on the approach to site and 10mph past the actual site.

During all closures, fully signed diversion routes will be in place for both local traffic and motorway traffic.

The main diversion route for all vehicle is via the M4 to Junction 8/9 (Maidenhead), the A404(M)/A404 to M40 Junction 4 and the M40 to rejoin the A34 at Junction 9 (Bicester).

During work on the northbound carriageway, the northbound entry slip road at the Beedon junction will be closed overnight for a period of time. A local diversion route will be available but this carries a weight restriction and so is unsuitable for large vehicles.