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HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release
issued by COI News Distribution Service on 15 January 2010
From 15 February the A303 will be closed for five weeks with a diversion in place. The work will rebuild the road and widen it by a metre where possible to provide a safety zone.
Highways Agency project manager Dave Frampton said:
"The work is part of a programme started in July which combines overnight work and lane closures to reduce the length of time that the whole route has to be closed and to reduce the impact of the work on road users.
"We have to carry out this maintenance scheme now to ensure the road is safe and in good condition for the future. Surveys show that the road surface and sub-structure are suffering from severe cracking and rutting. A CCTV survey of the drainage system has shown that it needs extensive repairs and in some places needs to be completely replaced.
"The work has been programmed to avoid the main holiday periods, but some delays will be inevitable and so are asking road users to check before they set out and allow more time for their journeys. When diversions are in use they will be clearly signed."
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The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. They manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
A previous programme of work involving a 12 week total closure was proposed last year but revised in response to concerns from local people.
During overnight closures the following diversion will be in place. Diversions will add 12.5 miles to the eastbound journey and 5.5 miles to the westbound journey:
Westbound traffic will follow the A350 to Shaftesbury and then along the B3081 to rejoin the A303 near Wincanton. Eastbound traffic will be diverted from the A303 at Podimore roundabout and follow the A37, A361 and A36 via Shepton Mallet and Frome before rejoining the A303 at Deptford.
Separation of the diversion routes has been chosen to reduce the effects of the additional traffic on the alternative routes.
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maps of diversion and more info
Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
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From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk. To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
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On the internet at www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
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By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time.
(Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary.)
Contacts:
Robin Miller
Phone: 0117 917 5281
robin.miller --at-- coi.gsi.gov.uk
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