A303
| A303 | ||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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| 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 | ||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||
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For the original route in London, a short road between Vauxhall and Wandsworth, replaced by the A3036, see A303 (Vauxhall - Wandsworth).
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
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
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.
The London-Penzance trunk road was diverted along the the full length of the then A303, from Micheldever to Devonshire House, in April 1958. When the M3 opened to Popham in 1971, the first few miles of the westward route, between there and Micheldever, remained A30, but were later renumbererd as part of the A303, making the A30 discontinuous.
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 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
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
Podimore Roundabout links the A303, the A37 and A372 near Ilchester. It is flared for future grade separation.
Opening Dates
| Year | Section | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Watergore | Lopen Head – Watergore improvement. Later bypassed by Ilminster bypass and declassified. |
| 1969 | Amesbury Bypass | The 3 mile dual carriageway from 0.3 mile east of Stonehenge Bottom junction to 0.4 mile east of Double Hedges Junction was due to open on 5 September 1969. Cost £1 million. |
| 1969 | Andover Bypass | The 4 mile dual carriageway opened on 11 September 1969. Cost £2 million. |
| 1975 | Wylye Bypass | Completed in 1975/76 per Wiltshire County Council footpath appeal minutes of 15 October 2008. |
| 1976 | Marsh Diversion | The 0.9 mile D2 dual carriageway was completed in July 1976 per the Policy for Roads: England 1978 Report. Outturn works cost £1.6 million. |
| 1976 | Mere Bypass | The 2.1 mile D2 dual carriageway was completed in July 1976 per the Policy for Roads: England 1978 Report. Outturn works cost £1.7 million. |
| 1977 | Wincanton and Holton Bypass | The 4.1 mile D2 dual carriageway from Witherleigh Farm, Dancing Cross to Leigh Common also bypassed Bayford. The scheme included a link road between A357 at Anchor Corner and A371 at Holbrook, forming a western bypass, and a connection to Lawrence Hill. The 2 mile first stage west of the town's Hawkers Bridge Interchange was opened on 26 January 1977. The east section and the bypass was opened on 8 March 1977 per a South West Film and Television Archive entry. Contractor was Mears Construction, tender cost £5.05 million, outturn works cost £6.3 million. |
| 1977 | Ilchester Bypass | The 4.3 mile D2 road opened on 28 March 1977. It was D2 dual carriageway except for 0.7 mile at the eastern end where the former A372 was used. Contractor was Cementation Construction, tender price £5,481,000, outturn works cost £7.1 million. Part was A37. |
| 1983 | Bullington - Popham | The 4.4 mile D2 online dualling (with deviation north of Micheldever) from 0.4 mile east of Bullington Cross to 0.4 mile east of Steventon Warren Lane was completed in June 1983 per the Policy for Roads in England: 1983 Report. Contractor was Gleeson Civil Engineering Ltd., tender price £4.3 million, outturn works cost £5.4 million. The section east of Micheldever Interchange was originally A30 and later renumbered A303. |
| 1985 | Weyhill Bypass | Opened 30 Oct according to a SABRE Forum post by someone who lived there at the time. |
| 1988 | Ilminster Bypass | Horton to South Petherton, also bypass of Horton, Seavington and Watergore. Officially opened on 19 July 1988 by Peter Bottomley, Minister for Roads and Traffic. A final section was opened on 25 August 1988 by Councillor Mrs Clarke, Chairperson of South Somerset District Council. S2+1. Contractor was A. F. Budge. |
| 1988 | Amesbury - Thruxton | The 6 mile D2 dual carriageway was completed in October 1988 (per the Trunk Roads, England, into the 1990's Report). Outturn works cost £11.2 million. |
| 1989 | Sparkford Bypass | The 3 mile dual carriageway was opened on 25 October 1989 by Robert Atkins, Transport Minister. Contractor was Davies Middleton & Davies Ltd., contract price £7,654,577. |
| 1990 | Ilchester - South Petherton | 4.5 mile online dualling. Opened on 13 December 1990 by Christopher Chope, Roads and Traffic Minister. Contractor was Wimpey, contract cost £12.8 million, outturn cost £24.6 million. |
| 1991 | Stockton Wood - Chicklade Bottom | Improvement completed in December 1991 per Hansard. Tender cost £1.3 million, outturn cost £1.7 million. |
| 1992 | Bourton and Zeals Bypass | Mere - Wincanton Improvement. Completed in July 1992 per Hansard. Tender cost £15.3 million, outturn cost £19.4 million. Dual carriageway. |
| 2024 | Sparkford – Ilchester Dualling | The 3.5 mile dualled section from Camel Cross to north-east of Hazelgrove Roundabout, including a bypass of that roundabout, was opened on 4 November 2024. |
Links
Roads UK
National Highways
- Stonehenge Improvements consultation document January 2017
- Sparkford to Ilchester March 2017 (archive.org)
legislation.gov.uk
Videos
