National Highways: Next traffic switch - A303 Sparkford to Ilchester scheme
25th March 2024
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What’s happening?
To allow us to carry out the next phase of construction, we need to change the traffic management layout between the Steart Hill junction and Gason Lane, known as the Wales embankment.
We’ll be moving traffic onto a section of the newly built westbound carriageway to allow us a safe area to build the new eastbound carriageway at this location. The traffic management changes are:
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 changes will happen under a full weekend closure of the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester. The closure will begin from 9pm on Friday 19 April and we’ll reopen the road at 6am on Monday 22 April. During this closure, we’ll ensure that access will remain for local residents. A signed diversion will be in place for all other traffic.
As part of the weekend closure, westbound A303 traffic will be directed to join the A359 at Sparkford roundabout, travelling to Yeovil to pick up the A37 and rejoining the A303 north of Ilchester. Eastbound A303 traffic will follow the diversion in reverse.
If, due to unforeseen circumstances such as poor weather, we cannot safely carry out the closure on that weekend, we will instead complete the work between 9pm on Friday 26 April until 6am Monday 29 April.
Speed limits through the scheme
These speed limits are in place for the safety of the travelling public and the workforce. The speed limits are influenced by the volume of traffic, junctions, the width of the road and its alignment. Locations where the layout requires traffic to crosses between the existing and new carriageway will have a lower speed limit. We understand that change can be confusing, so please find attached a map, which
outlines where the speed limits change from 30mph to 50mph. Each speed limit will be clearly signed.
