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A303

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A303
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (343)
From:  Popham (SU552447)
To:  Upottery (ST218075)
Distance:  95 miles (152.9 km)
Meets:  M3, A30, A34, B3048, A3093, A3057, A343, B3042, A342, A338, B3084, A3028, A345, A360, B3083, A36, A350, B3089, B3095, B3092, B3081, A371, A359, B3151, A37, A372, A3088, B3165, A356, A358, B3168, B3170
Former Number(s):  A30, B3049, A342, A344, A3036, A372, A358
Primary Destinations
Highway Authorities

National Highways

Traditional Counties

Devon • Dorset • Hampshire • Somerset • Wiltshire

Route outline (key)
A303 Popham – Upottery
This article is about the current A303, which is a trunk road from the M3 at Popham to a junction with the A30 near Honiton.
For the original route in London, a short road between Vauxhall and Wandsworth, replaced by the A3036, see A303 (Vauxhall - Wandsworth)
.
The Amesbury bypass in 2007

Introduction

The A303 is the middle section of the London to Exeter trunk road. It takes a more northerly route across Salisbury plain than the A30 and is a mixture of high quality D2 dual carriageway, and congested single carriageway. Passing places like Andover, Stonehenge, and Wincanton, it also carries much of the summer seasonal traffic between London and the south-west.

Route

Main Article: A303/Route

The A303 has a variety of standards along its route. From a high quality grade-separated dual-carriageway in the east, it ends up as a winding single-carriageway road in the west, with various standards in between. The route description examines them.

History

Main Article: A303/History

The current A303 began life in 1933, cobbling together various different roads to make a coherent through route. Made up of lots of various roads, some dating to 2000 BC in the Stonehenge area, it has had a vast array of improvements. When the M3 opened, the A303 and not the A30 became the main trunk road between Basingstoke and Devonshire House.

Future

Expressway proposals

In December 2017, it was proposed that the A303 in England could be upgraded to an expressway as part of the proposals to introduce a new type of road network. The proposal includes different expressway types with an aspiration that the highest quality expressways will be given motorway designation and an Ax(M) number. (Source: Highways England Strategic Road Network Initial Report)

Notable locations and improvements

Bullington Cross

The westbound Fork sign
Main Article: Bullington Cross

The first major junction for the A303 after the M3 going West, Bullington Cross is a major junction. This is where the A30 leaves the A303 behind and is also the junction for the A34.

Stonehenge Bottom

The junction in 2010
Main Article: Stonehenge Bottom

Stonehenge Bottom was the junction for Stonehenge and the A344. It was very busy throughout the year, especially around the time of the Solstice. The junction was closed in June 2013.

Podimore Roundabout

The junction in a wet April 2008
Main Article: Podimore Roundabout

Podimore Roundabout links the A303, the A37 and A372 near Ilchester. It is flared for future grade separation.

Opening dates

Month Year Section Notes
1933 Whole road A303 created.
April 1958 Whole road Gains trunk road status
1983 Popham - Bullington D2 (online) with Micheldever deviation
Sept 12 1969 Andover D2 by-pass
Oct 30 1985 Weyhill D2 by-pass
Oct 1988 Thruxton - Amesbury D2 dualling
Aug 12 1969 Amesbury D2 by-pass
1976 Mere D2 by-pass
March 8 1977 Wincanton D2 by-pass
Oct 25 1989 Sparkford D2 by-pass
Aug 23 1977 Ilchester D2 bypass
Dec 13 1990 Ilchester - South Petherton D2 (online)
July 19 1988 Ilminster S2+1 bypass
Aug 23 1988 Horton S2 bypass
1976 Marsh D2 by-pass

Links

Roads UK

National Highways


Videos

A303

All of the A303 westbound, sped up

Watch video > >



A303
Projects
Junctions
Barton Stacey Interchange • Bullington Cross • Camel Cross • Cartgate Roundabout • Chapel Cross • Countess Roundabout • Deptford Interchange • Devonshire House • Double Hedges Junction • Eagle Cross • Folly Bottom Junction • Furzehedge Junction • Hayes End Roundabout • Hazelgrove Roundabout • Hundred Acre Interchange • Ilchester Mead • Longbarrow Roundabout • Longparish Interchange • Marsh Junction • Mere Junction (Wiltshire) • Micheldever Interchange • Overton Road Interchange • Parkhouse Cross Interchange • Picket Twenty Interchange • Podimore Roundabout • Popham Interchange • Quarley Junction • Salisbury Road Interchange • Southfields Roundabout • Stonehenge Bottom • Stopgate Cross • Thruxton Village Junction • Tinkers Hill Junction • Wincanton Junction • Winchester Road Interchange
Services
Crossings
Roads
Places
Miscellaneous
Related Pictures
View gallery (343)
A303 - Coppermine - 22701.jpgChicklade - Coppermine - 20644.jpgA303 - Coppermine - 14578.jpgVacuum cleaners - Coppermine - 12290.jpgA380 009.JPG
Other nearby roads
Andover
A342 • A343 • A344 • A3057 • A3093 • B3042 (Hampshire) • B3049 (Bullington Cross - Andover) • B3050 • B3400 • B3402 • B3420 • Harroway • RM4
Stonehenge
Ilminster
Honiton
A30 • A30/Sandbox • A35 • A373 • A375 • T8 (Britain) • T37 (Britain)
A300-A399
A300 • A301 • A302 • A303 • A304 • A305 • A306 • A307 • A308 • A309 • A310 • A311 • A312 • A313 • A314 • A315 • A316 • A317 • A318 • A319
A320 • A321 • A322 • A323 • A324 • A325 • A326 • A327 • A328 • A329 • A330 • A331 • A332 • A333 • A334 • A335 • A336 • A337 • A338 • A339
A340 • A341 • A342 • A343 • A344 • A345 • A346 • A347 • A348 • A349 • A350 • A351 • A352 • A353 • A354 • A355 • A356 • A357 • A358 • A359
A360 • A361 • A362 • A363 • A364 • A365 • A366 • A367 • A368 • A369 • A370 • A371 • A372 • A373 • A374 • A375 • A376 • A377 • A378 • A379
A380 • A381 • A382 • A383 • A384 • A385 • A386 • A387 • A388 • A389 • A390 • A391 • A392 • A393 • A394 • A395 • A396 • A397 • A398 • A399
St Peters Way  Motorways: A308(M) • A329(M)  Earlier Itineraries: A303 • A326 • A331 • A333 • A341 • A346 • A355 • A364 • A369 • A374 • A378 • A392 • A397

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