Overnight closures for A303 stretch

THE A303 in Somerset will close for two nights this October while roadworks take place.

According to One Network, a website showing road closures across England, the road between Podimore and Sparkford will shut overnight on October 3-4 and 4-5. This is to allow for work on the Ilchester improvement scheme.

The closure will be in force from 8pm each night until 6am the following morning. A diversion route which takes the A37 from Ilchester Junction and the A359 has been suggested for drivers.

Highways England is upgrading a three-mile stretch of the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester in a bid to make it “safer and more reliable”. It is hoped that there will eventually be a high-quality dual carriageway link between London and the South East and the South West.

The scheme posted its most recent update on September 8, when work was beginning opposite the Steart Hill junction at the Wales embankment.

Since starting the scheme last year, Highways England has completed more than 60 per cent of the earthworks, moving around 900,000 tonnes of earth. The agency said it would be able to remove the temporary bridge later this year, with more news next month.