Skip to content

Work to upgrade busy route reaches key milestone

National Highways A picture of lorries and other vehicles on the A303 between Ilchester and Sparkford.National Highways
Preparatory work on the A303 dualling project started in 2021

A project to dual a section of the A303 is nearing completion.

The road between Sparkford and Ilchester now has both lanes open on each carriageway with traffic being able to travel at the national speed limit.

Senior project manager Sian Hopkins said: "The traffic management has gone and now the whole section is running."

Ms Hopkins added: "We still have some work to do on the local roads and that will continue in the coming weeks." National Highways started work on the scheme in 2021, with construction beginning in 2022.

National Highways An aerial shot of the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester. There are green fields and trees either side of the road.National Highways
National Highways says the new dual carriageway will help ease congestion

National Highways said the three mile stretch of road carries, on an average day, 23,500 vehicles.

It is hoped the dual carriageway will reduce congestion and improve journey times.

Senior project manager Sian Hopkins said: "We have had some weather-related challenges, but the team has worked really hard."

The project is expected to be completed by winter 2024.

Ms Hopkins added: "We would like to do all the work this side of Christmas but we will just have to see what happens with the weather."

The road now has two lanes of national speed limit traffic running in both directions.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook, and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

Other stories like this