COMPLETION of a multi-million pound project to dual the A303 between the Sparkford roundabout and Ilchester will be delayed – potentially for months – it is understood.

Your New Blackmore Vale understands poor weather and other factors have seen the project, which was initially proposed to open to traffic in spring 2024, slip behind target.

However, this newspaper understands the scheme could be delayed for months – possibly until the end of next year.

National Highways has not confirmed any delays, saying it has made ‘good progress’ on the scheme, ‘despite very challenging weather through July and August’.

“We are working hard to upgrade the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester, which is a vital scheme for the South West and Somerset,” a spokesperson said.

“We have made good progress through the summer despite very challenging weather through July and August.

“We will provide an update on opening as soon as possible.”

But a source close to the project, who did not wish to be identified, said: “The weather has meant certain things can’t be done and that has set it back.

“I don’t think it can be done before the end of 2024, so the delay will be around nine months, I think.”

Your NBV also understands an update on progress will be made by National Highways in the coming weeks.

The scheme, set to cost between £100 million and £250 million, will see major changes on a three-mile stretch of the A303 between the Hazelgrove Roundabout at Sparkford and Podimore, near Ilchester.

The single-carriageway stretch will be ‘dualled’, as well as the major route altered to bypass the Hazelgrove Roundabout.

Once work is complete, following the current route of the A303 to Downhead, the dual carriageway will then move north of the existing road – which will be kept for use by local traffic – up Camel Hill, before crossing what is the current route at Steart Hill/Howell Hill.

It will meet the current route once again to pass between Vale Farm and the MOD signal station at Eyewell/Traits Land.

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However, it will then divert again, bypassing the Hazelgrove Roundabout to the north, through the Hazelgrove House gardens, before rejoining on the Sparkford Bypass.

On an average day, the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester carries 23,500 vehicles, but numbers increase significantly in the summer, particularly at weekends.

Drivers have already faced speed limits on the affected route, down to 30mph in some places, since work began back in October 2021.

In May, National Highways said drivers were set to use sections of the A303 as work entered a new phase, but drivers say they are still solely using the ‘old’ road.

Now, they could be facing a total of three years of disruption before the scheme is completed.

For more information on the scheme, log on to nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-west/a303-sparkford-to-ilchester