THE vital role the A338 plays in the roads system through Oxfordshire was highlighted by the need to use it as an alternative route following the collision on the A34.

Oxford Mail:

Police and recovery crews at the scene of Friday’s crash on the A34 southbound, near Marcham

Maybe, just maybe, the highways and rail authorities and local government will now get together to find a way of keeping it open when the proposed reconstruction of the A338 road bridge at the old Wantage Road Station takes place.

Had the planned lengthy closure of the A338 been in force on Friday, where would the highway authorities have diverted the A34 traffic? Wantage and users of the A417 and A338 never welcome Seesen Way, Wallingford Street, Charlton Road and Ormond Road-Newbury Street and Manor Road being used as alternative north-south routes because normal everyday traffic already causes problems, but the need to have these routes available by providing an alternative bridge at Wantage Road to keep the A338 open must, surely, now be a paramount consideration for those individuals and authorities involved.

JACK LOFTIN

Charlton Village

Wantage