PLANS to widen the A34 in both directions through Oxfordshire would cost at least £800 million, a new report has revealed.

And an expansion could mean homes in Botley and North Hinksey could be compulsory purchased and bulldozed to make way for the extra lanes – unless innovative solutions are found, it has been warned.

With more than a third of all journeys along the A34 through Oxfordshire delayed, the traffic jams are hampering the county’s economy, the Oxfordshire Growth Board has been told.

Consisting of district council leaders and county council leader Ian Hudspeth, the board met to discuss how the dual carriageway between junction nine of the M40 and the Chilton interchange could be expanded by an extra lane in both directions.

It is hoped the improvements could be paid for with a slice of £15bn of Highways Agency funding for road schemes for 2015-2021.

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But any hopes for the expansion of the road would hinge on buying land and the compulsory purchase of properties in Botley and North Hinksey

The report said “almost all existing structures” would need substantial amendments north of the Botley interchange.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “The economic performance of Oxfordshire is being hampered by congestion on the A34 and something needs to be done now.

“Creating three lanes around Botley would be complex in engineering terms because it is such a built-up area, but instead of waiting you could go ahead and create three lanes between Botley and Chilton, and between junction nine of the M40 and Pear Tree interchange.”

Herald Series: Nicola Blackwood

Nicola Blackwood MP

A new 12.5km link road from the Lodge Hill interchange north of Abingdon to the M40 at junction 8 near Wheatley was also suggested as a possibility, at an estimated cost of £400m-£500m.

It would limit traffic on the northern half of the A34 by providing an alternative route for southern Oxford traffic and longer-distance users of the A34 travelling north and south.

But the route would rip up greenbelt land and could go past villages including Radley, Nuneham Courtenay, Marsh Baldon, Garsington and Cuddesdon.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood said: “The daily misery of stationary traffic on the A34 means we must investigate all options to find a viable, long-term solution to the capacity problems on the A34.

“The idea of cutting across to junction eight is theoretically attractive as it would help traffic bypass the bottleneck of Oxford city and I will be asking the Department for Transport to assess the feasibility of this option, alongside others, in its development of a long term strategy for the A34.

“In the short term, however, I am lobbying the Chancellor hard for more immediate improvements including a diamond junction at Lodge Hill, improvements at Botley and Peartree and, wherever possible, hard shoulders that can be used by rescue vehicles and as an extra lane at peak times.”

Herald Series: Ian Hudspeth

Ian Hudspeth

Oxfordshire County Council Leader Ian Hudspeth said: “The A34 is a big constriction on the growth of Oxfordshire and to find improvements for it will be absolutely great news for Oxfordshire.

“Creating three lanes in Botley would be a major problem for the project because of the constraints around that area and a lot of thought has to be involved if that was the best regarded solution.

“Perhaps we have to be looking wider and be a bit more innovative with our proposals.

“If a link road to junction eight means that houses being demolished in Botley did not have to happen then we have to weigh up which is the best solution.”

The report was compiled by Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Oxford University and the Oxford Innovation Steering Board.

Following the meeting on Thursday, they agreed to press the Chancellor for money in his Autumn Statement for a feasibility study for improvements.

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