Drivers are being urged to plan ahead if travelling around Oxford this weekend as closures on the A34 continue.  

The closure is for National Highways to carry out essential maintenance work on the Wolvercote Viaduct, a major structure on the A34, and carries the trunk road over the River Thames. Some of the work is weather dependent, such as waterproofing, which must be done when the weather is good. The maintenance is a major piece of work, with closures and disruption set to continue until the end of June. 

The work is being carried out during a series of overnight and weekend closures, which are essential for safety reasons.

Katarina Saradinova, National Highways head of scheme delivery, said: 

“There’s never a good time to close a busy road like the A34, but the work we are doing is essential safety work and needs to be carried out while the weather is good. I would advise all drivers travelling in and around Oxford over the next few weeks to plan ahead, leave time for their journey or seek an alternative route if possible.  

“I would also urge drivers to follow the signed diversion, and not to self-divert. The diversion route has been chosen as its best suited to handle the flows of traffic experienced on the A34. The diversion route has been agreed with the local authorities and emergency services and is clearly signposted.  

“We appreciate that the closures may cause delays and disruption, but we ask road users to bear with us. We are grateful for people’s patience while we complete this essential work, and we apologise for any inconvenience.” 

(Picture – National Highways)