DRIVERS on the A303 are being reminded to plan their journeys this weekend as work to maintain three bridges along the road continues.

The eastbound A303 near Thruxton, from the A338 Parkhouse Cross junction to the A343 Hundred Acre junction will be fully closed all weekend, from 9pm today (Friday) through to 6am on Monday, 18 September.

This is to allow for essential maintenance to take place on the bridge which carries the A303 over Thruxton Down Road and the bridge which carries the A303 near Thruxton race circuit.

A clearly signed diversion will be in place via Tidworth, the A3026 Ludgershall Road and the A342 Andover Road.

Highways England expects this route to be extremely busy, and alternative routes using the M5, M4, A35 and A31 will be signed further afield for long distance drivers travelling. between the West Country and the London/South East area.

Highways England project sponsor Gemma Luckhurst said: “Maintaining these three bridges will prolong the life of the structures and provide the 60,000 drivers that use this section of the A303 each day with safer and more reliable journeys for years to come.

“We have planned the work carefully to limit inconvenience to road users, and by carrying out the work on the three bridges at the same time we hope to minimise the overall disruption.”

Work at each bridge will involve replacing the waterproofing material under the carriageway and resurfacing the road over the bridges to provide drivers with safer and more reliable journeys for years to come.

Another weekend closure is planned from 9pm on Friday, 22 September to Monday, 25 September. The A303 westbound carriageway will be closed from the A343 Hundred Acre junction to the A338 Parkhouse Cross junction, weather permitting.