Route altered as part of A303 upgrade

BBC
·2 min read

Part of the A303 will be closed this weekend as a major dualling scheme moves forward.

To allow National Highways to carry out the next stage of work, changes in the layout of the road between Sparkford and Ilchester are needed.

Traffic will be moved onto the newly built westbound carriageway to allow space to build the new eastbound carriageway.

National Highways' senior project manager, Siân Hopkins, said: "We understand roadworks and changes in road layout can be frustrating, but we've communicated the traffic switch well in advance to local communities."

The work is taking place around the Steart Hill Junction and Gason Lane, known as Wales embankment.

The changes include:

  • Eastbound traffic will switch onto a single lane of the new westbound carriageway at Steart Hill through to Gason Lane and then back onto the existing A303

  • Westbound traffic will switch from the existing A303 westbound carriageway at Gason Lane and run temporarily on a single lane of the new westbound carriageway, before switching to run temporarily on the eastbound carriageway of the new A303 after Steart Hill

The diversions will be in place until 06:00 BST on Monday.

During this closure, access will remain for local residents. A signed diversion will be in place for all other traffic.

Ms Hopkins added: "We appreciate the A303 is a well-used road, and we are keeping disruption to an absolute minimum.

"We're ensuring access is maintained for residents and businesses, and we'll be keeping people fully informed as we continue to progress with the scheme."

To ensure the works can be carried out safely, new speed limits will be in place along the section of altered road.

This is the second traffic switch for users of the road following changes to the layout between Yeovilton Junction and Steart Hill in January.

Safer for users

More traffic switches will take place throughout the year, as the scheme is due for completion in winter 2024/25.

The A303 Sparkford to Ilchester upgrade will provide a three-mile dual carriageway link on the A303 in Somerset, including new and replacement slip roads, junctions and road bridges to replace existing junctions and direct access roads.

Once completed, the route will make this section of the A303 safer for all users, while protecting the environment by minimising the impact on the surrounding landscape, National Highways said.