A303 5 week closure

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Tue 16 Feb 2010 09:28
A303 5 week closure - RobertyBob
The A303 in Somerset is currently closed, in both directions, between the A350 and the A371, for a period of five weeks.

The closure was originally going to be for 14 weeks as discussed in 2008 here:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=69828&...f

Has anyone had experience of the long diversions since the closure started?

I understand that the works only affect a small section of the closed road. What happens if someone needs to access an area of the A303 not affected by the works? For example Mere from the west, can you still get onto the A303?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 16 Feb 2010 11:36
A303 5 week closure - stackman
Bob, I drove around that area this morning.

Basically you can stay on the A303 heading east until the Mere turn off. It would then be possible to drive through Mere taking the old Warminster road across the top of the downs and turning off at the fork in the first Deverill village you come to. Turn right when you reach the A350 and rejoin the A303. Probably just another 10 minutes on your journey time and a scenic route to boot.

Coming the other way this morning the diversion through Shaftesbury and Gillingham seemed pretty clear, but it will probably be a nightmare trying to get the kids to school in Gillingham when they go back next week.

You could, of course, apply the reverse route to the one above, turning right off the slip-road from the A303 towards Warminster then taking the fisrt left down into the Deverills and on to Mere.

Edited by stackman on 16/02/2010 at 11:39

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 16 Feb 2010 23:00
A303 5 week closure - cheddar

Eastbound the official diversion is through Shepton Mallet, a long way around.

I go through that way often and the traffic on the A361, A371, A36 has not been bad these last couple of days.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 17 Feb 2010 14:46
A303 5 week closure - stackman
That diversion sure is a long way round, and nearly all of it single carriage A roads frequented by lorries coming from the quarries between Frome and Shepton mallet.

Unless you are driving an HGV then stay on the A303 as far east as you can. If you don't fancy the lanes then use the B3081 after Wincanton to Gillingham then up to Shaftesbury, a reverse of the official westbound diversion.

I wouldn't want everybody to do this, but offer this advise to allow the select band of backroomers to benefit from some local knowledge.

By the way, I went for a walk alongside the closed section this morning. There were 30+ road maintenance vehicles and dozens of blokes in fluoescent jackets beavering away so they are certainly keen to get on with it. There was a notice on the footpath I took stating that it was an offence to enter the area of the A303 closed for roadworks. Seems a little OTT to criminalse a pleasant walk.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 17 Feb 2010 15:18
A303 5 week closure - RobertyBob

There was a notice on the
footpath I took stating that it was an offence to enter the area of the
A303 closed for roadworks. Seems a little OTT to criminalse a pleasant walk.


Ah, that would be our old friend 'elf n safety.

We are travelling westbound on Friday to meet some friends at the National Trust, Stourhead. Our friends are coming from the west so they should be able to stay on the A303.

I am quite happy to work my way round the lanes to approach from the east.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link