What we’re doing on site this Autumn

29 October 2019

We’ve been carrying out surveys since June along the proposed route for the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down (Stonehenge).

Work in the summer took place at western end of the scheme, and in November we moved to a section at the eastern end.

You’re probably wondering what we’re doing and why.

To help answer some of your questions we’ve put together a useful Q&A.

Will there be any road closures as part of this work?

No, however there are lane closures. We’ve put in temporary traffic management on Countess roundabout, its exits and approaches, over a period of six-weeks from Sunday 3 November until Friday 13 December.

Lane closures are in place from Sunday evenings until early Friday morning so our team can carry out survey work safely.

To avoid disruption during busier times we’ll remove lane closures by 6am Fridays and reinstate them Sunday evenings.

Traffic still has access to Countess roundabout, it’s just limited to a single lane, so please plan ahead of any journeys you expect to make in the area.

We apologise for any inconvenience and can assure you that there are no diversions planned.

Separate to this work we’re also carrying out road surveys in Winterbourne Stoke. Temporary traffic lights will be in place from the western end of the village to the eastern side overnight, between the hours of 8pm and 6am. This work will begin Monday 18 November and will be finished by 6am Saturday 23 November.

What does the survey work involve?

We’re carrying out different work over a 6-week period:

Week 1-2: Vegetation clearance and archaeological surveys.

Week 3-4: Ground penetrating radar – checking for utilities.

Week 4-6: Ground investigations – involving the drilling of boreholes and digging of trial pits.

The examination finished in October, so why are you carrying out work now?

The formal examination finished in October – an independent panel of inspectors are now reviewing our application making their recommendation to the Transport Secretary in three months, who will then make his or her decision by April 2020.

So that we can keep to our schedule to begin construction in autumn 2021 (if given the go-ahead) we started our search to find a contractor to build the scheme in the summer.

The phase of survey work is essential as we need to get more information on ground conditions for the detailed design of the proposed Countess flyover.

We’ve already conducted surveys over the past couple of years, which has helped us draw up the preliminary design of the scheme and this is being examined as part of the planning or “Development Consent Order” process.

Are you carrying out any work at Blick Mead?

No, none of the survey work we’re doing between November and December will take place at Blick Mead.

If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.