Timing of A338 Britford roadworks 'unfortunate'
Wiltshire Council has explained why it's closing one of Salisbury's busiest arterial routes for three weeks, at the same time the new school term starts.
Last updated 28th Aug 2020
- Essential roadworks on the A338 Downton Road start on Thurs 3 September 2020
- They're set to last until 25 September 2020
- The road will be completely closed Monday to Friday from the Britford park and ride to just south of Harnham gyratory
Not that it offers motorist much consolation, the road closure will not include weekends. The road will be open from 7am on Saturday morning, until the early hours of Monday morning.
Although the roadworks are described as 'essential' they could also equally prove to be a headache.
NIGHTMARE FOR SCHOOL RUN & COMMUTERS
Schools re-open for the new term on Tuesday 1 September with the vast majority of pupils returning to classes for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown.
Just two days after parents try to get back into the swing of ferrying children to school, the three weeks of roadworks and road closure will begin.
The A338 between Britford and Salisbury is busy at the best of times.
It is a hot spot for congestion during the school run and at peak travel times.
Bus services will also be affected by the disruption. There are timetable updates from Salisbury Reds buses here.
LONG A338 DIVERSION ROUTE
Here's the diversion route that's been set up:
POOR TIMING - WILTSHIRE COUNCIL DEFEND DECISION
In a statement Wiltshire Council have explained why the roadworks weren't done sooner:
"We carefully plan roadworks to try to ensure closures are scheduled during the school holidays whenever possible. However, after negotiations with Highways England about concurrent works and diversion routes that are on-going within Hampshire and on the trunk network, we only have a short window in which the work can be carried out. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity takes us into the school term."
"The work will be carried out in phases with the northern section being carried out first so that the businesses are able to operate with as much access as possible. The road will be open at weekends."
"Advance signs on all approaches to Salisbury have been placed so that people can find alternative routes if they pass through the city."