ROAD SENSE
THE A34 IS a road of two halves. It started life in 1922 as the route from Winchester to Oxford, then in 1935, was extended north to Salford, via Birmingham, Stoke and Manchester.
The southern section, linking Winchester to Oxford, is a fast intercity highway, upgraded over the years. The final upgrades were the Newbury Bypass in the 1990s and the M4 interchange, which allows the A34 to pass through as a free-flowing dual carriageway from the M3 to the M40.
Heading north
The present A34 gives way to motorways at the Bicester roundabout and is not seen again until it emerges at the Dorridge roundabout with the M42.
From here, it heads north from Birmingham to Stafford, Newcastle-under-lyme, then through Cheshire, going around Alderley Edge and on to Manchester. The Alderley Edge bypass was completed in 2010.
Fuel stations BIRMINGHAM TO MANCHESTER
There are six along the Stratford Road between the M42 and Birmingham’s Bordesley Middleway (A4540).
A ESSO MFG GREAT BAR
Birmingham Road B43 6NT B ESSO TESCO EXPRESS
Great Wyrley WS6 6LA C SHELL Stone ST15 0HH D TESCO Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-trent ST4 6PL
E SHELL Newcastle Road, Talke ST7 1UP
Busiest junctions Peartree Interchange
This junction, north-west of Oxford, is where several major roads – the
A34, A40 and A44 – meet. A series of roundabouts connects the multiple roads and are complicated to navigate. Peartree Services and the park and ride site also add to the traffic build-up.
Great Barr Interchange
Junction 7 of the M6 meets the A34 in a three-level stacked interchange. Slip roads to and from the M6 to the west connect to the inside of the roundabout instead of the outside. Eastbound M6 vehicles have to pass the entry point they just came from before they can exit.
Chilton Interchange
High traffic levels at the junction where the A34 meets the A4185 have resulted in a history of serious accidents.
7 FAMILY FARM SERVICES
■ Where OX25 3QQ. One northbound, two southbound sites between junctions, with no connection between them
■ Parking Southbound: No official parking at service station, but HGVS park in lane leading to fuel. Northbound: Some, but nothing dedicated to long/large vehicles
■ Catering Southbound: Starbucks
■ Forecourt Northbound: BP, M&S Simply Food, Wild Bean Café, Air1 Adblue. Southbound: Shell, Select, Deli by Shell, Costa Express, Air1 Adblue
5 MILTON HEIGHTS (DIDCOT) SERVICES
■ Where OX14 4TX. A34 at Milton Interchange (also accessible from the A4130). Single site at a junction
■ Parking A fair amount, nothing dedicated to large vehicles
■ Catering Beefeater (The Applecart), Mcdonald’s Drive Thru
■ Facilities POLAR charging point
■ Forecourt BP, M&S Simply Food, Wild Bean Café, Air1 Adblue
3 CHIEVELEY SERVICES
■ Where RG18 9XX. A34 between Newbury and Didcot southbound and M4 at J13. Single site located at a junction southbound
■ Parking First two hours free. Two parking areas: 1) Long-stay car park on left as you enter, signposted Travelodge. Caravans and motorhomes pay £30. 2) Short-stay car park for coaches and caravans is just past cars area and adjacent (to the right) to the fuel station. Costs £25 for stays over two hours.
■ Catering Burger King, Costa, Greggs,
Costa Express, Krispy Kreme, M&S Coffee to Go
■ Facilities M&S Simply Food, Whsmith, Ecotricity
■ Forecourt BP, Shop, Costa Express, Air1 Adblue, LPG
2 TOT HILL SERVICES
■ Where RG20 9BX. A34 near Newbury. Single site at a junction.
■ Parking Some HGV parking spots
■ Catering Starbucks, Mcdonald’s Drive Thru ■ Forecourt Shell, Select, Deli by Shell,
Costa Express, Air1 Adblue
6 PEARTREE SERVICES
■ Where OX2 8JZ. A34/A44 Peartree Interchange
(Oxford Ring Road). Single site at a junction
■ Parking First two hours free, after which £15. No HGV parking is available. There is parking for coaches, but it means reversing out of the spot. Fair amount of car parking
■ Catering KFC, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks On The Go ■ Facilities Waitrose, Ecotricity
■ Forecourt Shell, Select, The Deli, Rollover, Adblue Containers
4 BERKSHIRE DOWNS SERVICES
■ Where OX11 0RW. A34 southbound between Newbury and Didcot.
Single site between junctions on one side of road
■ Parking None
■ Forecourt Shell, Costcutter,
Costa Express, Rollover,
Adblue4you Containers
1 SUTTON SCOTNEY SERVICES
■ Where SO21 3JY. A34 between Winchester and Whitchurch. Two sites between junctions, with no connection
■ Parking Dedicated space for caravans and coaches. First two hours free, after which caravans pay £21
■ Catering Costa, Mcdonald’s,
Costa Express, Krispy Kreme
■ Facilities Whsmith, Ecotricity
■ Forecourt Shell, Select, Deli by Shell, Costa Express, Air1 Adblue