A major A-road through Wiltshire will shut for three months during a significant roadworks project. Drivers warned of three month road closure ahead of A303 Stonehenge upgrade.
Motorists could face traffic carnage near popular tourist area with plans to close key road for three months
The A360 will close between its junction with The Avenue, near Salisbury, and the Longbarrow junction with the A303 from Tuesday, April 2.
During the closure, traffic will be diverted via the A345 and sections of the A303 and A36, as per the diagram below, and a comprehensive signage system is being developed to inform road users around Salisbury and as far away as Devizes and Shaftesbury to point traffic to alternate routes.
The busy route will remain shut for three months while works are carried out by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks in relation to the planned A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down upgrade past Stonehenge.
National Highways said it would be “working hard” to minimise disruption before the summer
This scheme is being implemented on behalf of National Highways and will involve installing high voltage and fibre optic cabling along the road.
These cables will provide electricity for the major upgrade scheme on the A303, powering both construction and the planned tunnel in the long term.
A full closure is necessary during this period for safety reasons due to the narrow width of the road and the minimal spaces along the verges.
Work will be carried out seven days a week with some overnight working to allow the closure to be lifted before the school summer holidays.
National Highways says the works could have taken up to a year if single-lane closures and traffic signals were employed.
The diversion route will see drivers follow the A345, and sections of the A303 and A36, and National Highways has warned delays are likely.
Motorists have been advised to plan their journeys ahead of time and allow extra time to reach their destination.
Andrew Clark, National Highways’ project manager for the A303 Stonehenge scheme, says measures are in place to minimise the impact of the road closure.
He added: “The road scheme will ultimately tackle the longstanding issue of rat running and provide a real benefit to local communities, and for this essential preliminary work, we are doing all we can to put in measures to lessen the impact for local communities and the travelling public.
“We need to carry out the work now to maintain our programme, we appreciate that roadworks and road closures can be frustrating and we’d like to thank motorists, local residents, and businesses in advance for their patience.
“Without the full closure, the work would take a lot longer to complete, and working with Wiltshire Council, we’re making every effort to ensure that the impact on drivers and local communities is kept to an absolute minimum.”
A comprehensive signage system will be in place all the way from Devizes to Salisbury to point traffic to the alternative routes. SOURCE: Swindon Advertiser
Road Closure Links:
A360 set to be closed for FOUR MONTHS for Stonehenge tunnel project – Wiltshire Times
Drivers warned of three month road closure ahead of A303 Stonehenge upgrade – ITV
Section of A360 soon to be closed for three months – Salisbury Journal
Diversion route for A360 closure confirmed – Salisbury Radio
A360 temporary closure – English Highways
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