Asked by: Lord Lloyd-Webber (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is an overall strategy for the long-term development of transport links between Southampton and the Midlands, particularly in regard to the volume of freight carried on the A34.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The A34 is part of the Solent to Midlands Route Strategy. Highways England is in the process of updating the route strategy for the A34 which will inform future bids to government for scheme funding. The updated strategies will be published in spring 2017. The updated strategy will reflect the current capacity issues on the A34 and the development proposals which are due to come forward over the coming years including those that could increase the volume of freight.
Asked by: Lord Lloyd-Webber (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any specific proposals relating to the A34 to the south of the Chieveley interchange; and if so, which agency is responsible for them.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The current A34 safety review includes the section south of Chieveley. Improvements are planned to relieve congestion at the interchange between the A34 and the M3 at Junction 9 as set out in the Road Investment Strategy.
Highways England is responsible for the whole of the A34.
Asked by: Lord Lloyd-Webber (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed Oxford and Cambridge expressway, what is the plan for the A34 north of Chieveley.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Minister of State for Transport, the Rt Hon John Hayes CBE MP, alluded to previously in the A34 Safety Westminster Hall Debate on the 26th October 2016, the stage 3 study report for the Oxford to Cambridge expressway was published on 28 November 2016. This study informs current discussions on the future of the A34.
Highways England is also currently updating their route strategies, including the Solent to Midlands strategy the includes the A34. These strategies will be published in Spring 2017 and will highlight current route issues as well as challenges for the future. This will inform future infrastructure improvement bids. The current Road Investment Strategy announced two schemes on this section of the A34- Technology enhancements between the M4 and M40 and improvements to the Peartree and Botley interchanges. Highways England is working on options for these schemes.