New drone footage from National Highways shows a bird’s eye view of the new Sparkford to Ilchester upgrade approaching completion.

It shows how much progress has been made since work began on-site in 2021. Both structures, Steart Hill Bridge and Hazlegrove underpass, are now complete, with Hazlegrove underpass opening in June, connecting Camel Hill with the communities south of the A303, without having to travel on the main road.

The next stage of work will see a change in the traffic management layout between the Steart Hill junction and the end of the scheme, just past Hazlegrove roundabout.

Traffic will travel along the entirety of the new eastbound carriageway between Podimore and the Hazlegrove roundabout once completed.

The project will be finished off the new road and linking it in with the existing A303 as it nears completion in Winter 2024/25. 

Final work on the scheme will now be to complete the westbound carriageway through the entirety of the scheme, which will make up the final switch towards the end of the year. Drainage works, landscaping and fencing works will also continue as the project moves towards fully opening in Winter 2024/25.

To allow the project to carry out the next phase of work, a change to the traffic management layout between Steart Hill junction and the end of the scheme, just past Hazlegrove roundabout is needed.

Once the change is complete traffic will be travelling along the entirety of the new eastbound carriageway between Podimore and the Hazlegrove roundabout.

The change will happen under an overnight closure of the A303 between the Hazlegrove and Podimore roundabouts. The closure will be in place between 9pm on Friday 9 August until 6am Saturday 10 August.

During this closure, access will remain for residents with direct access onto the A303. A signed diversion will be in place for all other traffic.

The A303 Sparkford to Ilchester upgrade will provide a high-quality three-mile dual carriageway link on the A303 in Somerset, including new and replacement slip roads, junctions and road bridges to replace existing junctions and direct access roads.   

The new dualled section will start east of Podimore Roundabout, follow the alignment of the existing A303 to Downhead, and then move north of the existing A303 single carriageway, allowing the existing road to be kept for use as a local road in this section.  

The route will rise up West Camel Hill before crossing over the existing A303 at the junction with Steart Hill/Howell Hill and meet up with the existing road again between Vale Farm and the Ministry of Defence signal station at Eyewell/Traits Land.  

The final section of the route bypasses the existing Hazlegrove Roundabout to the north through the Registered Park and Garden associated with Hazlegrove House, before tying into the existing A303 Sparkford Bypass.  

Once completed, the route will make this section of the A303 safer for all users, while protecting the environment by minimising the impact on the surrounding landscape.  

National Highways is working with its delivery partner, Galliford Try, to construct the scheme.   

National Highways said: "Three years on since work started, the progress being made on the scheme between Sparkford and Ilchester, which will tackle congestion, improve safety is clear in these new aerial footage."

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, completing work so far with minimal disruption to the travelling public and local residents. 

“We’re also delighted to be entering the final stages of schemes that will see us open in Winter 24/25 and we can’t wait to see users get the full benefit of this scheme.

“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.”