THE next phase of investigation work for the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme will start today (September 14).

Ground investigation surveys, to inform Highways England’s procurement process, have been taking place around the World Heritage Site since June 2019, and a further four weeks of work is now due to take place on and around the A303 Countess roundabout.

The work will involve the drilling of boreholes and digging of trial pits, and with lane closures in place for safety reasons, drivers are advised to expect some delays to their journeys.

Countess roundabout will be reduced to a single lane – from 10am on Mondays to 6am on Friday only – until Monday October 9.

David Bullock, Highways England Project Manager, said: “While this essential work continues around Countess roundabout, we’d like to thank local communities and road users in advance for their patience.

“We're carrying out the work in a way that has the smallest impact on local residents, businesses and the travelling public and one of the steps we’ve taken to minimise disruption is to remove lane closures on Friday mornings in time for weekends and re-install on Mondays after the morning peak.

“The survey work in no way pre-empts the outcome of the Development Consent Order application, which has been deferred until 13 November.

“The ground investigations are taking place to help bidders with their tenders and to put us in a position to be able to complete the procurement process and ready ourselves for construction, providing consent is given.”

More details of the ground investigation work can be found HERE.

Highways England’s proposed upgrade of the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down aims to unlock congestion along this route, conserve and enhance the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site, benefit the local and regional economy and tackle the rat-running issue for local communities.