THE A34 has reopened 11 hours after a lorry overturned on the southbound carriageway near Abingdon. 

The Highways Agency has confirmed the lorry has now been recovered but there are still minor delays in the area. 

Oxford Bus Company has diverted its X3 and 13 services through Abingdon and is already suffering delays.

The company warned commuters: “We are expected it to be very difficult over the next hour or two.”

The Highways Agency has said the impact of the accident, which happened at 4am, is expected to increase as the morning goes on.

It said: “Routes in and around Abingdon are expected to experience congestion and delays due to the diverted traffic.

“Road users are advised to expect long delays later this morning and to allow plenty of extra time for their journey.”

It is advising drivers follow the diversion route marked by a solid Black Triangle and use the M40, M25 and M3.

The lorry overturned at about 4am this morning, causing a chemical leak.

The leak is not hazardous, the Highways Agency said.

Thames Valley Police have said the A34 will be closed 'for some time yet' as the fire service clear chemicals associated with an overturned lorry.

Reports suggest it could be at least 3pm until it reopens. 

Spokeswoman Lucy Billen said: “It was noticed there are some sort of chemicals leaking onto the road. The fire service are dealing with that so it’s going to be closed for some time yet while they work on it.”

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue service said it was called to help clear oil and diesel which spilled onto the road.

A spokeswoman said crews would return to help recover the lorry at about 8am.

Our top stories

There is no access to the A34 southbound from the Hinksey Hill Interchange. Traffic is being diverted through Abingdon via the A4183, Dunmore Road, Copenhagen Road, Colwell Drive and A417 or instead follow the black solid triangle. 

Traffic sensors are showing major delays through Abingdon on Ock Street, Marcham Road and Stratton Way. 

There have been a number of incidents involving lorries on the A34 recent. One lane of the A34 was shut at Chilton on Thursday, February 19, after a vehicle transporter lorry overturned on the northbound carriageway between East Ilsley and Chilton at 8am.

A month earlier on Monday, January 19, a car transporter carrying seven cars went through the central reservation and into a ditch between the Milton and Chilton Interchanges at about 7.30am closing the northbound carriageway until 8.15am.

Have you been affected? Call our newsdesk on 01865 425500.