NEW road markings and signs are being installed at Longbarrow Roundabout on the A303 in a bid to reduce traffic congestion.

The roundabout has been the scene of traffic jams stretching back several miles in both directions and the problem was particularly bad at peak times during the summer holidays.

On Monday, the Highways Agency started four nights of work to change the lane markings and install new signage.

It is hoped the markings and signs will ensure that motorists get into the correct lane as early as possible. The Highways Agency also wants motorists approaching the A303 to use the correct lanes.

Highways Agency Project Manager Mark Arberry said: “Recent analysis of traffic approaching Longbarrow Roundabout suggests that the incorrect use of lanes is adding to congestion at this location, particularly on the A303 approaches.

“We are introducing additional signing and lane markings at Longbarrow Roundabout to help road users make the best use of the extra lanes we introduced in June, as part of improvement work carried out at Longbarrow roundabout.”

Changes to Longbarrow Roundabout were originally undertaken to support English Heritage’s application for a new visitor centre at Stonehenge and Wiltshire Council’s closure of the A344.

The work included moving the roundabout approximately 15 metres to the southwest of the existing location and widening the A303 westbound and A360 southbound approaches to the roundabout.

However, traffic congestion has continued to cause problems in the area including rat-running through nearby villages as motorists seek to avoid the queues on the A303.