Those travelling to and from Oxford this weekend should brace for potential delays caused by shutdowns on the M40 and A34 carriageways.
The M40 will be subject to restrictions from Friday, March 20 through to Monday, March 23 while improvement and repair works take place.
There will be no A34 closures within the local area this particular weekend, though some are lined up for the remainder of the month.
Road users are encouraged to look into alternative routes prior to departing.
Benson Parish Council has flagged a closure that may impact motorists in the coming weeks – Benson Hale Road where it meets Sands Way and Sunnyside.
Drainage infrastructure work commenced on March 9 and is anticipated to persist for as long as eight weeks.
Further details regarding the restriction can be found on the Benson Parish Council website.
The A34 spans a considerable distance, covering 151 miles according to the RAC. This major route carries motorists from Winchester in Hampshire up to Salford in Greater Manchester. The organisation notes that the original A34 covered far less ground, merely linking Winchester with Oxford. The road was lengthened further northwards towards Manchester during April 1935.
M40
On Friday, the M40 southbound carriageway between junctions 13 and 12 will experience lane restrictions and slip road closures, with a diversion available to facilitate maintenance. These will run from 10.15pm until 6am on Saturday.
Additional lane restrictions and an entry slip road closure are anticipated on the M40 southbound between junctions 6 and 4, as well as the northbound stretch between junctions 4 and 6, with a diversion in operation from 10.15pm until 6am on Saturday.
Lane restrictions and a slip road closure are also scheduled for the M40 northbound between junctions 10 and 12. A diversion will be signposted while work continues from 9pm until 6am.
A34
No A34 restrictions are scheduled for Friday.
M40
Saturday will see the M40 southbound at junction 11 subject to lane restrictions, a slip road closure, a full carriageway closure and a diversion for maintenance purposes. These will be effective from 10.15pm until 6am on Sunday.
The M40 northbound between junctions 5 and 7 will undergo lane restrictions, slip road closures and a diversion, including a closure of the junction 6 entry slip road, from 10.15pm until 6am on Sunday.
A34
No A34 restrictions are scheduled for Saturday.
M40
On Sunday, the M40 southbound at junction 11 will be subject to lane restrictions, a slip road closure, a carriageway closure and a diversion for maintenance from 10.15pm until 6am on Monday. This encompasses a closure of the carriageway between junctions 11 and 10, the junction 11 entry slip road and the junction 10 exit slip road.
A34
No A34 restrictions are scheduled for Sunday.
M40
Monday will bring lane and slip road closures on the M40 southbound between junctions 13 and 12, along with a diversion, to allow maintenance to proceed. This includes a carriageway closure between junctions 12 and 11 and a closure of the junction 12 entry slip road, operating from 10.15pm until 6am on Tuesday.
Lane restrictions and an entry slip road closure are also anticipated on the M40 southbound between junctions 6 and 4, and on the northbound section between junctions 4 and 6, with a diversion available from 10.15pm until 6am on Tuesday.
Lane restrictions and a slip road closure are scheduled for the M40 northbound between junctions 10 and 12, with a diversion in place from 9pm until 6am.
Also on Monday, an exit slip road closure at M40 northbound junction 9 will require a diversion for maintenance from 10.15pm until 5.30am. Simultaneously, an entry slip road closure at M40 southbound junction 9 will be in effect with a diversion route.
A34
No A34 restrictions are scheduled for Monday.
Although no local A34 closures are planned for this weekend, motorists should note upcoming restrictions.
Work on the A34 in southern Oxfordshire as part of the Lodge Hill project has commenced.
Traffic management measures have been introduced for safety purposes.
The northbound lane of Harwell Link road will be shut, with three-way temporary traffic signals installed from March 16 for approximately four weeks, operating around the clock.
From March 25, one southbound lane of the A34 between the Milton and Chilton interchanges will be shut for roughly one week.
Additionally, two-way temporary traffic signals continue to operate on a stretch of the northbound A4183 Oxford Road, around 80 metres north of the northbound slip road joining the A34.