- M40 southbound J10-J8a full closure Friday night
- A34 both directions resurfacing Marcham-Botley overnight
- M40 southbound J10-J9 lane closures Monday night
- M40 J11 slip roads closed entry/exit overnight
- Diversions via National Highways routes advised
Oxfordshire (Oxford Daily News) February 19, 2026 – Motorists across Oxfordshire are urged to prepare for significant disruptions on the M40 motorway and A34 trunk road from Friday, February 20, to Monday, February 23, 2026, due to scheduled maintenance and resurfacing works. National Highways and Oxfordshire County Council have announced a series of overnight lane closures, full carriageway shutdowns, and slip road restrictions that could add considerable time to journeys, particularly for commuters travelling southbound towards London or along the vital A34 corridor. These works form part of ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and infrastructure resilience amid increasing traffic volumes in the region.
What are the exact M40 closures this weekend?
As reported by the Oxford Mail team in their coverage on Yahoo News UK, the M40 southbound will face a full carriageway closure from Junction 10 to Junction 8a, commencing at 10:15 PM on Friday, February 20, until 6 AM on Saturday, February 21.
Further details from the same source highlight additional impacts at Junction 11 later in the period. On Monday, February 23, from 10:15 PM until 5:30 AM on Tuesday, February 24, the exit slip road at M40 southbound Junction 11 and the entry slip road at M40 northbound Junction 11 will both close for maintenance.
Traffic England updates via Oxfordshire Live Travel News corroborate these timings, noting similar patterns in recent weeks that extend into late February 2026. Lane closures between J9 and J10 northbound are also pending from February 24, but for the specified weekend, southbound segments dominate the alerts.
Why is the A34 facing resurfacing works?
The A34, a critical artery linking Oxford to southern England, will see both directions closed for carriageway resurfacing between Marcham and Botley on multiple nights. As detailed in the Oxford Mail’s weekend preview published on February 19, 2026, these closures start at 9 PM on Friday, February 20, and conclude by 6 AM on Saturday, February 21.
This pattern repeats on Monday, February 23, with identical timings from 9 PM to 6 AM on Tuesday. The works are essential for addressing wear from heavy goods vehicles and daily commuter traffic, which has intensified post-2025 infrastructure upgrades. National Highways’ South East maintenance schemes page reinforces that similar A34 northbound closures occurred earlier in February from Tufton to Dunley, setting the stage for ongoing interventions.
Oxfordshire County Council’s official roadworks portal, covering projects like A40 Access to Witney, provides context on phased closures, though focused on earlier dates. Full closures on A40 from 8pm to 6am on February 2-3 and 9, 2026, involved B4022 slip roads, mirroring tactics for A34 to ensure worker safety.
“To facilitate essential construction works, the A40 will be fully closed to traffic within the project area from 8pm to 6am,” the council stated, a model likely applied to A34 Botley stretches.
How will these closures impact Oxford drivers?
Commuters from Oxford heading south on the M40 risk delays of up to an hour if caught in diversions from J10 to J8a. As reported by Oxfordshire Live on February 18, 2026, recent M40 northbound works between J9 and J10 for horticultural maintenance closed two of three lanes overnight, a precursor to southbound efforts.
“Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed… Reason: Horticultural works are planned… From 22:15 on 24 February 2026 to 06:00 on 25 February 2026,” though shifted slightly for the 20-23 window, impacts compound weekend travel.
A34 users between Marcham and Botley, key for Didcot and Newbury access, face repeated night-time full closures, potentially forcing detours via A415 or B roads. The Milton Interchange, though closing later from February 27, exemplifies regional strain, with Oxfordshire County Council announcing “Essential carriageway resurfacing and maintenance work will take place at the A34/A4130 Milton Interchange from 27 February – 2 March 2026 under a full road closure” from 8pm Friday to 5am Monday.
This 24/7 shutdown includes kerb repairs, drainage, and signal loops, minimising weekday disruption but highlighting weekend vulnerabilities. Facebook community posts from Wantage and Grove groups on February 19 flagged similar notifications, urging residents to stock up pre-closure.
“Just had this notification for a weekend road closure at the A34/A4130 Milton Interchange from 27 February – 2 March 2026,” one user shared, reflecting public awareness spilling into the 20-23 period.
Sutton Courtenay Parish Council echoed this, confirming “The A34 / A4130 Milton Interchange will be closed from 8pm Friday 27th February until 5am on Monday 2nd March 2026,” advising planning.
What diversions are in place for M40 southbound?
National Highways mandates signed diversions for the M40 J10 to J8a full closure, typically routing via A40 west then south through High Wycombe. The February 13-16 preview by Oxford Mail detailed “a diversion route due to maintenance efforts,” with solid white lines and temporary signs ensuring compliance. For J10 to J9 lanes on Monday, slip road closures necessitate early exits at J9 or looping via J11.
Oxfordshire Live’s February 18 update on M40 southbound between J8A and J6 previewed full closures from February 23-26 nightly from 22:15 to 06:00 for road repairs.
“Lanes 1, 2 and 3 will be closed… All lanes will be closed,” it warned, aligning with 20-23 extensions.
Entry slip at J8 southbound closes similarly, pushing traffic to J9. Historical BBC coverage of M40 works, like 2024’s J9 southbound slip nights from 21:30 to 06:00 diverting to J9 and back, informs patterns.
“Drivers forced to divert to junction nine and back,” Oxfordshire County Council explained for traffic management amid housing growth.
Which A34 sections are most affected?
Primarily Marcham to Botley both directions, with overnight full carriageway closures Friday and Monday nights. Broader A34 Lodge Hill Interchange upgrades, per Oxfordshire County Council, impose narrow lanes and speed restrictions southbound from February 2026 to August.
“A34 southbound – February 2026 to August 2026… reduced to narrow lanes and speed restrictions,” the council detailed for safety during Stage 6 winter works.
National Highways’ A34 northbound from Marcham Road to Hinksey Hill diverts via A415 east to A4074 north to A423, rejoining at Hinksey Hill.
“Exit the A34 at Marcham Rd roundabout and join the A415 eastbound,” instructions read for 9pm-6am slots.
Public Notice Portal noted cyclical maintenance from January 2026, 21:00-06:00 max, on A34 projects.
“These measures are in the interests of road safety while contractors undertake maintenance and renewal work,” it proclaimed.
