THERE is no overwhelming case for converting the A34 junction at Lodge Hill, near Abingdon, into a full interchange, a major study has claimed.

Supporters of the plan say the creating a full interchange at Lodge Hill would take traffic out of the clogged up town centre.

But a study submitted to Oxfordshire County Council says the move would bring mixed results, even resulting in increased traffic on some roads in Abingdon.

Drivers using the A34 southbound can leave the road at Lodge Hill, but there is no equivalent interchange for northbound traffic and there is no means of joining the A34 from north Abingdon to travel south.

The report compares what traffic flows in Abingdon would be in 2026, with all the additional extra housing and employment planned for the area, with and without a full diamond interchange.

The study concludes there would be increases in traffic on some roads, no change on some and decreases on others. Projected traffic levels in Abingdon Town Centre would “neither decrease or increase if new Lodge Hill interchange arrangements were introduced,” it concludes.

The report also finds: l Projected traffic levels in Abingdon town centre in 2026 would neither decrease or increase if new Lodge Hill interchange arrangements were introduced l Traffic levels would be reduced at peak times on the A415 Marcham Road immediately east of the Marcham interchange and west of the double mini-roundabouts east of Colwell Drive l Traffic would increase on the A415 Bridge Street l There would be slight reductions in traffic levels on the A415 Ock Street to the east of the double mini roundabouts l Traffic levels on the B4017 Drayton Road would remain similar in morning peaks in a northbound direction but increase in morning peaks in a southbound direction.

l On Dunmore Road, there would be substantial reductions in both northbound and southbound traffic It also predicts there would be increases in traffic levels on the A34 between the Marcham interchange and the possible new Lodge Hill interchange.

Ian Hudspeth, county council cabinet member for transport, said: “Ultimately we are in the hands of the Highways Agency in terms of the funding for any scheme at Lodge Hill.

“This study was aimed at finding out exactly what the impact of a Lodge Hill scheme would be and, sensibly, takes in to account the housing and employment growth that is planned for the area.

“We now must study these results along with colleagues at the Vale of White Horse and Abingdon Town Council, as well as the Highways Agency, to arrive at a common judgement on what these figures mean.

“We will seek to do that during the course of the next few months.”