I don't think there's any particularly difficult engineering problem with a northern bypass of Chicklade, following the curve at the end of the dual carriageway, arcing around the north side of the village and rejoining the present A303 east of the A350 junction. The rest of the route could be largely on-line. The land slopes upwards to the north of Chicklade, but not nearly steeply enough to present any problems if you decided to put a road there.Richardf wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 10:28 Been looking at the Wylye to Mere section, and while the bit between Wylye and Chicklade seems easy enough, the next bit from Chicklade to Mere certainly isnt!. Any ideas as to how it couldbe done? I wondered if an offline route from the end of the current DC and roughly following the route of the B3089, bypassing Hindon and rejoining the current route at Willoghby Hedge might work? Although i suspect NH/HMG would want a cheaper online route as much as possible i suspect. Still no easy options around Chicklade itself though!
A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
The boreholes which have been drilled previously go around the south of Chicklade, with the rest being pretty much online from the top of the hill up from the village
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
This route takes into account topography of the area. Would likely need a climbing lane on the hill heading East from Mere The section that would link to the A350, could be brought in closer to the existing roadRichardf wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 10:28 Been looking at the Wylye to Mere section, and while the bit between Wylye and Chicklade seems easy enough, the next bit from Chicklade to Mere certainly isnt!. Any ideas as to how it couldbe done? I wondered if an offline route from the end of the current DC and roughly following the route of the B3089, bypassing Hindon and rejoining the current route at Willoghby Hedge might work? Although i suspect NH/HMG would want a cheaper online route as much as possible i suspect. Still no easy options around Chicklade itself though!
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Work has now started on the A303 Sparkford Dualling Scheme, it is due to open in 2024.
Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Yes it started in August, some photos on the previous page of this thread of the machinery etc on site. Drove past the other day and noticed they've started to dig the new alignment through some of the fields.roadphotos wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 23:37 Work has now started on the A303 Sparkford Dualling Scheme, it is due to open in 2024.
Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
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Last edited by SteveA30 on Wed Dec 29, 2021 07:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
I do feel sorry for the petrol station and diner as they are going to be completely cut off from the A303 and will essentially be at the end of a dead-end road. To get to them will take a long diversion from the dual carriageway through junctions and roundabouts.
Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
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Last edited by SteveA30 on Wed Dec 29, 2021 07:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Drove through last week on the way to a five day beak on the Lizard. Was quite surprised with the amount of work undertaken so far.
Brought a tear to my eye, first major scheme to start on the A303 for over 25 years.
Shame nothing at Stonehenge
Brought a tear to my eye, first major scheme to start on the A303 for over 25 years.
Shame nothing at Stonehenge
The M25 - The road to nowhere
Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Went through there this afternoon for the first time since work started. Lots of cones, some earthworks in places, in others nothing much at all. Still early days I guess, perhaps concentrating on junctions and bridges first maybe?
Looking forward to going that way in the weeks and months to come to see how things progress.
Looking forward to going that way in the weeks and months to come to see how things progress.
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Looked again at the plans. Still don't really understand the odd junction layout at the Sparkford end. I'm sure a more straightforward dumbell or dumbell parclo hybrid would fit in and work just as well if not
The Yeovilton end is nearly as bad but given all the local roads joining there it makes more sense somehow.
The Yeovilton end is nearly as bad but given all the local roads joining there it makes more sense somehow.
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Whether something 'fits' on satellite imagery / maps totally ignores wider issues including landtake, buildability, visual intrusion and environmental issues. If you actually read all the documents submitted as part of the planning process it will become clear that the selected scheme is indeed the best 'fit' for the area.Richardf wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:09 Looked again at the plans. Still don't really understand the odd junction layout at the Sparkford end. I'm sure a more straightforward dumbell or dumbell parclo hybrid would fit in and work just as well if not
The Yeovilton end is nearly as bad but given all the local roads joining there it makes more sense somehow.
Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Don't think land use is the issue. Chosen design probably takes up just as much land as a simpler, higher quality dumbell junction would. The WB onslip needs a fair amount of space or it would be too tight a curve. No the main reason is cost and the need to connect as many local roads as possible into the junction.Phil wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:15Whether something 'fits' on satellite imagery / maps totally ignores wider issues including landtake, buildability, visual intrusion and environmental issues. If you actually read all the documents submitted as part of the planning process it will become clear that the selected scheme is indeed the best 'fit' for the area.Richardf wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:09 Looked again at the plans. Still don't really understand the odd junction layout at the Sparkford end. I'm sure a more straightforward dumbell or dumbell parclo hybrid would fit in and work just as well if not
The Yeovilton end is nearly as bad but given all the local roads joining there it makes more sense somehow.
My latest Road Photos https://flic.kr/s/aHsktQHcMB
Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
The land north of the roundabout is protected as a nature reserve or similar, so minimising land take to the north of the route was the driver for the junction layoutRichardf wrote: ↑Mon Nov 08, 2021 19:03 Don't think land use is the issue. Chosen design probably takes up just as much land as a simpler, higher quality dumbell junction would. The WB onslip needs a fair amount of space or it would be too tight a curve. No the main reason is cost and the need to connect as many local roads as possible into the junction.
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
The little burger hut at Chicklade? That's been a traditional stop for me & mine for many years on the way to & back from the west country.ryzzey wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 09:55 I do feel sorry for the petrol station and diner as they are going to be completely cut off from the A303 and will essentially be at the end of a dead-end road. To get to them will take a long diversion from the dual carriageway through junctions and roundabouts.
It will be an awful shame if it doesn't survive. Well worth a bit of a detour if needs be.
Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
This thread is about the Sparkford to Ilchester section of road so I am referring to Mattia Diner and Texaco fuel station near the Sparkford roundabout.ROAD ROVER wrote: ↑Tue Nov 09, 2021 06:39 The little burger hut at Chicklade? That's been a traditional stop for me & mine for many years on the way to & back from the west country.
It will be an awful shame if it doesn't survive. Well worth a bit of a detour if needs be.
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Feb 22 2022 or, 22-2-22. Latest on Sparkford to Podimore dualling. Still nothing at the Podimore end but, work has now reached the other end at Hazlegrove rbt, Sparkford. Tree clearance there.
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
New photos above, 22-2-22
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Re: A303 Sparkford to Ilchester
Thanks for the photos. Are they slow getting going with this or am I just impatient?