A34 Traffic: How to Avoid Congestion and Delays on the A34 Road

The A34 road is one of the most critical roads in England, connecting the south coast with the northwest of the country. It runs from Winchester in Hampshire to Salford in Greater Manchester, passing through major cities such as Oxford, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent. It also forms part of the European route E05, linking Southampton with Greenock in Scotland.

The A34 road is a popular route for travellers, commuters and freight transporters, but it can also be prone to congestion and delays due to its high traffic volume and frequent roadworks. In this article, we will provide some tips and advice on how to avoid traffic problems on the A34 road and make your journey smoother and safer.

Check the traffic news before you travel

One of the best ways to avoid traffic jams and accidents on the A34 road is to check the live traffic news and updates before you set off. You can use online sources such as Traffic Delays or National Highways to get real-time information on road conditions, incidents, closures and diversions. You can also listen to local radio stations or use navigation apps such as Google Maps or Waze to get alerts and suggestions on alternative routes.

Live A34 Congestion Reports

A34 Accident Updates

Northbound A34 Roadworks and Delays

Traffic delays for the A34 road in Southern England. Latest travel news from official UK Traffic Delays open data sources.

Southbound A34 Roadworks and Delays

Avoid A34 roadworks and traffic congestion on the UK’s major roads.

Plan your journey and avoid peak times

Another way to avoid traffic problems on the A34 road is to plan your journey and avoid travelling during peak times. The busiest times on the A34 road are usually weekday mornings and evenings when commuters travel to and from work and weekends when leisure travellers are heading to or from their destinations. Try to travel outside these hours or choose a different day to travel. You can also use online tools such as Google Maps or Travel Time Calculator to estimate how long your journey will take and when is the best time to leave.

A34 Traffic Flow Map

Live traffic flow information. Avoid travel congestion and plan a smarter route.

Be aware of roadworks and closures

The A34 road is often subject to roadworks and closures due to maintenance, repairs or improvements. These can cause delays, diversions and disruptions to your journey. So, knowing about any planned or ongoing works on the A34 road is essential, and how they may affect your travel is necessary. You can check the National Highways website.

Know the busiest sections and how to avoid them

The A34 road has some sections more prone to congestion and delays than others due to high traffic volume, junctions, roundabouts or roadworks. Some of the busiest areas on the A34 road are:

• The Oxford Ring Road: This is the section of the A34 that forms part of the ring road around Oxford, between Peartree Interchange and Hinksey Hill Interchange. It is often congested due to many vehicles entering and exiting Oxford via various junctions and roundabouts, such as Botley Interchange, Wolvercote Roundabout and Kennington Roundabout. To avoid this section, you can use alternative routes such as the A40, A44 or A420, depending on your destination.
• The Newbury Bypass: This section of the A34 bypasses Newbury, between Chieveley Interchange and Tot Hill Services. It is often congested due to the high volume of traffic travelling between Southampton and Birmingham and the junction with the M4 motorway. To avoid this section, you can use alternative routes such as the A339, A4 or B4009, depending on your destination.
• Birmingham City Centre: This section of the A34 passes through the middle of Birmingham, between Perry Barr and Camp Hill Circus. It is often congested due to the many vehicles entering and exiting Birmingham via various junctions and roads, such as Birchfield Road, Aston Expressway and Bristol Street. To avoid this section, you can use alternative routes such as the M6, M5 or A38(M), depending on your destination.

Traffic delay information supplied by UK Traffic Delays. The latest A34 traffic reports, roadworks and live travel news for Southern England. Our travel news is as up-to-date as possible, but please always check with local radio news sources and allow plenty of time for your A34 vehicle journey.

UK Traffic Delays is a reliable source of updated travel information, obtained under licence from official data providers. London travel information is used under license from TfL: Powered by TfL Open Data.

Our website contains public sector travel information licensed under the: Open Government Licence v3.0.

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