A303 closure - it's over.

8.46.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th Apr 2010

An extensive maintenance scheme carried out by the Highways Agency from east of Mere to the junction with the B3089 is now complete. The work involved repair and strengthening of the road, repair of drainage and installation of new safety barriers. The road was widened by a metre where possible, to assist with drainage and provide additional space for breakdowns and maintenance.

The Highways Agency now say that because of the good weather this month they should be far enough ahead with the work to re-open the road at close of play today.

Construction activities were broken down into phases to reflect the nature of the work and to limit disruptions.

The first phase of activity was completed during June and July 2009 and involved site investigation work and drainage repairs.

Phase 2 of the scheme lasted for 5 weeks from mid-November 2009 and entailed preparation work for the widening, continued drainage works, signage and safety fencing. The A303 was closed overnight for this work.

Phase 3 started on the 18 January and comprised drainage channel construction and signage, then major surfacing and drainage channel works.

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The plans to close the A303 at Mere in spring 2009 were scrapped following an outcry from local councillors and residents over the impact the closure would have had on local communities. 30,000 vehicles a day use the route, and these would all have been looking for somewhere else to go.

Diversion routes. See the Highways Agency site for a bigger map.

The 303 was resurfaced only 10 years ago in this location. However, recent investigations and visual observations of the carriageway indicated severe cracking and wheel track rutting. A survey of the drainage system revealed that several drains required jetting, root removal and repair.

Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome David Heath had raised the matter in Parliament. During Question Time in the Commons he said: "I can't think of any other region in the country, other than the West Country, where the main arterial route could be closed for a quarter of the year for the convenience of contractors - rather than the interests, both economic, environmental and social - of the people I represent."

Wiltshire county councillor Ian West, who lives at Winterbourne Stoke on the A303, said: "30,000 vehicles pass through my village on the A303 every day. Imagine all those lorries and cars being diverted through the countryside. It's going to be horrific for people living there."

Despite local support for dualling this stretch of road that's not seen by the HA as a possibility any time before 2019.

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Were you confused in The Deverills? The HA said the rules were being followed on signage but drivers were reporting some difficulty following diversion routes. Here are your comments:

"Travelling from west to east on the A303 we found the diversion signs confusing and found ourselves retracing our route back from Wincanton through N and S Cadbury following the black diamond sign. Returning again back to Wincanton we followed the signs and again back on the A303 heading west,until reaching an unsigned road to Gillingham. Another driver went north of Wincanton towards Chippenham and ended completely confused in The Deverills. Perhaps bigger and better signs to the approach to Wincanton may help to which direction to go."

"Have you also noticed the M4 was closed last weekend near Chippenham for "essential" bridge removal. Question, was this so essential that it had to be done at exactly the same time as the A303 is closed? Two routes from the SW to London and SE and highways close them both at the same time. Fantastic eh?"

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