A303 Sparkford to Ilchester scheme takes shape
National Highways has shared new aerial footage of the route as we enter the third year of the project
National Highways have shared a series of photos showing the progress made on the important 3-mile scheme in Somerset, hoped to boost the region's economy and improve journey times for locals.
It's now two years since work on the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester started in a bid to improve safety and, as National Highways say, help support increased economic prosperity across Somerset and the wider South West region.
Depicted in the several new aerial pictures which have now been published, they show a number of the key milestones which the project has now broken through as it nears its completion - which is due for 2024.
Some key achievements over the last two years include:
- Creating five new attenuation ponds to help with drainage
- Installing the Steart Hill and Hazlegrove bridge decks – weighing a combined 1,673 tonnes
- Laying over 7.5 miles of drainage piping
- Installing the Hazlegrove underpass, designed to connect the communities of Camel Hill with Sparkford and Queen Camel
- Installing more than 300 bird, bat, dormouse and owl boxes
- Completing 10 archaeological digs
National Highways has also invested thousands of pounds into the community.
More than £21,000 has been pumped into community projects through its 'social value fund', in a bid to leave a 'lasting legacy' on the community.
These include:
- New cricket nets for Babcary Cricket Club
- Refurbishing the guide posts at Martson Magna
- New equipment at Queen Camel playing fields
Siân Hopkins, Senior Project Manager for National Highways, said: “The A303 is a vital scheme for the South West and we have pushed ahead on this much-needed scheme, competing work so far with minimal disruption to the travelling public and local residents.
“We’re also extremely proud of the work we have done in the community, committing thousands to projects that will help leave a positive legacy in the area.
“The upgrade will mean smoother, safer and more reliable journeys for drivers and we will build on the progress already made to deliver this new stretch of road as soon as we can.”
Despite challenging weather conditions over the course of the project - not to mention last month's torrential flooding and the wettest July on record - National Highways say the team continues to work hard on the project, with the road now set to open in Winter 2024/25.
Siân added: “Unfortunately, the scheme has been delayed, not only due to significant periods of bad weather, but also the discovery of protected species on the site. This has caused delays in site clearance, earthworks and other activities, over the past two years.
“We apologise for the delay but can reassure you we are working hard to open the road as quicky as possible and as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
To finish the scheme over the next year, National Highways will:
- Complete the six crossovers to tie in the new road to the existing A303
- Finish the Steart Hill bridge and Hazlegrove underpass
- Connect the local road network to the new road
The A303 Sparkford to Ilchester upgrade will provide a three-mile link connecting east of the Podimore Roundabout to the existing A303 Sparkford Bypass.
Once completed, the works are promised to make this section of the A303 safer, while protecting the environment by minimising the impact on the surrounding landscape.
The £155m scheme between Sparkford and Ilchester is also promised to provide a major boost to the local economy, as well as tackling a long-standing bottleneck, which will help to improve traffic flows in the area at peak times and during peak seasons.
On an average day, the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester carries 23,500 vehicles but numbers increase significantly in the summer, particularly at weekends.
In delivering the scheme, National Highways is aiming to:
- Improve the capacity of the road to reduce delays and queues that occur during peak hours and at key times of the year i.e. the height of summer
- Support economic growth, facilitating growth in jobs and housing by providing a free-flowing and reliable connection between the South East and the South West
- Make the road safer, by providing additional capacity and reducing driver stress. We’ll make routes safer for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders in the area
- Protect the environment and look for opportunities to improve it, minimising any unnecessary impact of the scheme on the surrounding natural and historic environment and landscape.
- Work with local communities to reduce the impact of the road on a sense of community severance and look for ways to improve local people’s quality of life.
- Make journey times more reliable and resilient, by providing more capacity it will become easier to manage traffic when incidents occur.
You can find out more about the scheme on the National Highways website.
Read more: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester upgrades: Q&A roadshow launches