A STRETCH of the A303 has reopened to traffic as planned after works to build a new carriageway.

Works between Sparkford and Podimore roundabouts were carried out from Friday (April 19) to Monday (April 22).

A National Highways spokesperson said: “It went to schedule and the A303 reopened to traffic as planned (05:26), in the early hours of yesterday (Monday, April 22). Traffic is running smoothly on the new alignment.”

Somerset County Gazette: Another photo taken after the stretch of road was reopened yesterdayAnother photo taken after the stretch of road was reopened yesterday (Image: National Highways)

Siân Hopkins, National Highways’ senior project manager for the A303 Sparkford scheme, said: “We appreciate the A303 is a well-used road, and we are delighted that the traffic switch  went exactly as planned over the weekend, with minimum disruption.

“We understand roadworks and changes in road layout can be frustrating, but we communicated it well in advance and this marks another milestone for the project.

Somerset County Gazette:

"We now have just two traffic switches left, one ahead of the summer getaway and one in the autumn, as we look to complete this long-awaited scheme in winter 24/25.

“We thank people for their co-operation and patience and are looking forward to opening this new road in the near future."

The planned works are linked to a dualling scheme between Sparkford and Podimore roundabouts.

Before the works, a spokesperson for National Highways said: “We’ll be moving traffic onto a section of the newly built westbound carriageway to allow us a safe area to build the new eastbound carriageway between Steart Hill and Gason Lane.”