THE A34 could be upgraded to an 'expressway' and connected to at least 22 miles of new road as part of plans to connect Oxford and Cambridge.

Highways England says the scheme would substantially cut congestion, with through-traffic such as lorries able to bypass the city.

It would also take 50 minutes off journey times between the university cities, with trips to Milton Keynes possible in just 45 minutes.

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A report published this week by the Department for Transport said the expressway could open by 2031, adding: "Commuters would benefit significantly from journey time savings."

The proposals involve bringing the A34 between Chieveley and north Abingdon up to 'expressway standard', which could include better road surfaces, motorway-style signs, flyover junctions and a requirement to cut the number of accidents.

A number of options are also on the table for a section of the new dual-carriageway to bypass Oxford.

One route would bypass the A34 through Botley, but a government spokesman last night said it would not rule out controversial widening of that stretch of road in future.

But it prompted concerns it would involve ripping up swathes of open countryside.

Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council, welcomed the expressway proposals but called on Highways England to consider improving or widening more of the A34 instead.

He said: "The impact of a major new road could be very significant.

"Widening the A34 through areas such as Botley would be disruptive, but it would avoid creating a new transport corridor across what is effectively Oxfordshire's rural countryside.

"It is something they need to look at again and it would certainly be something I don't think they should rule out."

The report outlines three main options for the expressway. The fastest possible route – option A – would cut total journey times between the Chieveley M4 junction and Cambridge to just an hour and a half.

It would follow the A34 to Abingdon, then a new road would continue south of Sandford, passing north of Wheatley, Thame and Aylesbury and joining the A421 at Milton Keynes.

Two other options being considered would see the road pass either west of Botley or just east of Oxford, then south of Bicester, south of Buckingham and on to Milton Keynes.

The Highways England report said the expressway could mean an extra 900,000 workers were in commuting distance of Oxford Science Park, central Bicester and the Harwell science campus.

This would bring Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge into a 'single functional economic area'.

Changes in technology could also see the road include a series of unconventional measures. Highways England said it could be among the first to include charging points for electric vehicles and hydrogen-fuelled cars, with the expected advent of driverless vehicles that network with each also meaning lane markings might no no longer necessary.

The findings come after Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, committed £27m towards planning for the expressway in his Autumn Statement.

The overall cost of different options being considered for the road ranges between £3.04bn and £3.45bn.