SEVERE delays have cleared on the A34 after a crash involving a tractor and a lorry.
Queues of northbound traffic were stretching for more than eight miles from the turn-off for Bletchingdon, close to where the collision happened, all the way back past the Hinksey Hill Interchange.
The crash happened shortly before 2pm and major delays remained until 6.30pm, when all lanes reopened.
Rush hour brought even more congestion, with a knock-on effect on other major roads.
The Botley Road is currently experiencing some heavy traffic congestion. This is due to a backlog of traffic trying to get onto the A34. This will affect our city 4, Brookesbus U1 and Park & Ride 400 services. Delays are approximately 20-25 minutes at present.
— Oxford Bus Company (@OxfordBusCo) October 23, 2018
Stagecoach Oxford said its 1 service was unable to get to Oxford railway station due to Botley Road traffic, as a result of the A34 crash.
SERVICE UPDATE. Due to an incident on the A34 our 1 services are terminating at Speedwell st. 14 & S3 at George St. We are unable to get to rail station due to backed up traffic along Botley road.
— Stagecoach Oxford (@Stagecoach_Ox) October 23, 2018
Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene near Hampton Poyle shortly before 1.47pm.
South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman Michelle Archer said one man was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, with injuries that were not life-threatening.
According to the Traffic England live travel map, the incident involved a vehicle that 'left the carriageway'.
A man who passed the crash said he saw a tractor 'in a ditch' and police were covering a spillage with sand.
@BBCOxTravel A34 northbound islip, there's a tractor in the ditch, police coned off lane 1 putting sand down over a spillage
— Mark (@reltubkram) October 23, 2018
One lane was closed and a recovery crew was called out to clear the blockage.
#Oxfordshire. There are long delays on the #A34 northbound between the #A44 and the #B4027 due to a road traffic collision involving a HGv and a tractor. @tvprp are on scene. pic.twitter.com/C46BvZ5quo
— Highways England (@HighwaysEAST) October 23, 2018
As drivers re-routed to avoid the A34, congestion was worse than usual on several other key routes, including the Eastern Bypass and Botley Road.
Traffic queuing at 5.15pm this evening, shown on Google Maps
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