Somerset

A four mile stretch of the A303 has been closed for repairs

Planned diversions on a four mile stretch of the A303 have been described as "confusing" and a "complete nightmare" by motorists.

The diversions will be in place near Mere for five weeks, so the Highways Agency can carry out essential repairs.

However, many have contacted BBC Somerset to describe the difficulty in following the road signs put in place.

Depending on the direction of travel, the diversions take motorists on routes via Shepton Mallet or Shaftesbury.

'Going wrong'

For motorists heading east, the route set out by the Highways Agency takes them from the Podimore roundabout on the A37 to Shepton Mallet, then the A361 and A36 (via Warminster) to get back on the A303 at Deptford.

Motorists heading west are taken in a southerly direction on the A350 to Shaftesbury and the B3081 to get back onto the A303.

However many motorists have contacted BBC Somerset via the A303 Have your Say page to describe the difficulties they encountered.

Denise Moore, from Basildon, Essex, said: "Going west we found the diversion easy to follow, it was well signposted. Going east was a complete nightmare.

"The signs were very confusing and we ended up going wrong and about nine miles out of our way. I hope it's finished by Easter."

A303 planned road works. Enlarge Image

In response to those complaints, the Highways Agency said the diversions in place have been chosen because they can take the volume of traffic and larger vehicles which would have struggled on the smaller B roads off the trunk road.

Dave Stock, from the Highways Agency added: "We have well over a hundred signs marking the diversion routes and notifying people of the works that are being undertaken.

"Once we put the diversion in place, we sent someone out who had nothing to do with the scheme at all, to try the route and see if they had any particular difficulties.

"We have identified a few areas where we can make improvements and we'll put additional signing in this week and we'll keep it under review."

'Weight restrictions'

However some residents in Mere and surrounding villages have said lorry drivers are ignoring the diversion and are travelling on the difficult to navigate B roads.

Graham, from Gillingham, Dorset, said: "HGVs and large coaches ignoring the signposted diversion and driving along entirely unsuitable B roads and lanes in the area, possibly aided by their satnavs.

"No sign of any enforcement from Highways Agency or police. Contractors appear unwilling to stop or redirect drivers of these vehicles as they pass by the weight limit signs that they've put up to prevent this.

"Only a matter of time before there will be an accident. Obviously we're in for a month or two of driver/satnav stupidity in the area!"

The Highways Agency has said a series of weight restrictions have been imposed in a number of areas.

"We've enhanced the notification of weight restrictions with the use of flashing variable message signs to reinforce the fact that HGV's shouldn't be using these routes, some of these routes will have access required for farms and for businesses, so there will be some HGVs as normal.

"We also contact satellite navigation companies to forewarn them of our works, the closure and the diversion.

"Unfortunately that's very much dependent on those satellite navigation companies uploading and amending their software, and people downloading the latest versions of their software."

Have your say: How clear are the A303 diversions and which parts of the route do you think need improving?

Fill in the form below

Returning from visiting my family in Helston, Cornwall I was extremely dismayed by the bad signage on the diversion from the 303 - the whole nightmare journey getting back to the 303 took 1.5 hours and an extra 35 miles onto my very long journey home. The diversion to the West is far better and very much shorter.
Jayne Berry, Maidstone, Kent

Many many bewildered HGV drivers get to the road closure at Mere and end up on the B3092. Unless they follow the signs back on to the A303 ie returning the way they came they are stuck. In either direction there is nowhere possible for them to turn around. So they continue using their satnav and end up on VERY unsuitable roads. There is no easy way to bypass the hill they are working on, as a local I do know several south of the 303 and a north of the 303 short cuts. However NONE of these routes are passable safely by anything much bigger than a large van, being single track roads. One stuck HGV causes Chaos to our rural communities. Missed deliveries, late milk tankers which causes huge problems for our dairy farmers. Huge diversions for local people who only wanted go go to a neighbouring village, or to work and find the road blocked. All the little B roads are in dire need of maintenance, and the extra traffic especially of lost HGVs is only going to cause more damage. The diversions are NOT clear enough, the follow the diamond is complicated by a black diamond or a diamond outline - 1 for HGV's and one for cars. They are only intermittently put on the signs, meaning that the opportunities to get hopelessly lost occur all along the diversions, spreading bewildered and annoyed motorists all over the place! It would help a lot if the diversions said where they were diverting via, ie Shaftesbury and Gillilngham westbound and Shepton Mallet and Frome, Warminster eastbound. Then people could set their satnavs to go via these places rather than a find the diamond treasure hunt, which clearly doesn't work well. PS not yet seen a police car anywhere near the restricted roads.
Carrie, Kilmington (village close to A303), Wiltshire

I do the trip from Hants to Somerset 1 or 2 times weekly. With the benefit of a road map (remember those?) and a slightly earlier start the works have added just 15 minutes to my journey each way. I don't have any connection with the contractors but well done for completing the works ahead of schedule.
Derek Enderby, Petersfield, Hants

The A303 from Stonehenge onwards is a national disgrace, the only major road west in this country and you have single carriageway past Stonehenge and many other areas along the 303, I live near Penzance in Cornwall and work in Surrey so have to use this disgrace all the time complete with worn out road surfaces, this is a major trunk route and it's about time the government looked west for once and turned this into dual carriage way!
Roger Halford, Surrey

I've just returned from a day return trip from Surrey to Exeter, and found the diversions - 'black square west', 'black triangle east' - ok to follow as long as, in the dark, on the way home, my passenger confirmed the route ("It is the second exit here isn't it?"). But we could have done with more reassuring symbols along the way, and an indication of when we'd be back on the A303. It did get worrying. What's happening on the closed stretch?
Tim Lincoln, Redhill, Surrey

I agree that the signage is appalling. It took me nearly 4 hours to get from Windsor to Sidmouth yesterday, a journey that normally takes 3 hours. I ended up going through the centre of Yeovil at rush hour, finally turned on my sat nav to find an alternative route back to Sidmouth. Today my daughter has phoned to say that she is completely lost in Warminster, and can't see any diversion signs at all. She is even now still driving trying to get back home to Sidmouth. I told her yesterday to watch the signs carefully but she seems to have made the same mistakes as I did.
Deidree Dee

We all knew about the a303 roadworks, I thought the detour would be well sign posted so never bothered to take a map, travelling east for Reading, we were diverted off the 303 at the Stourhead exit, only to be directed back onto the 303 westbound, thought it would steer us off onto a sideroad soon after, but no!! on we went back to Wincanton!!! then on to Shepton Mallet!!! That was enough for me, decided to go back home to Yeovil and give up, cannot say I was very Happy, cost me fuel and hour and a half in time, It's about time the powers that be really thought about what they are doing to people's lives when they make these decisions, A few choice signs before joining the 303 carrageway would have been helpful telling us where these diversions would lead us to might have made us think again before venturing forward.
Geoff, Yeovil

I drive between Exeter and Sevenoaks around 3 times a month, a trip that on a good day can be completed in approximately 3 hours. With light traffic, a Sat nav device and trying my best to follow the diversion signage last night the journey took just under 4.5 hours.

In some cases I met a roundabout with a clear left and right turning (no straight on) and no signage to highlight which way to go.

I've seen the feedback that the westbound diversion is much better however I will be taking no risks tonight on the journey back and taking the M4/M5 route. Very very disappointed in this poor diversion.
James Johnston, Exeter

Travelling West on the a 303 today (approaching Mere) I was directed off the A 303 in a northerly direction by a confusing yellow sign (to a place I had never heard of) as there was no signing to go South, which, after going about 5 miles in the wrong direction I learned - was advised - was the correct direction so needed to turn around to go in the other direction on a long and confusing route (again with minimal signing). The route and the signing is hopelessly inadequate and yet another example of the incompetence of this useless government agency. Thank you, useless agency, for wasting about 30 minutes of my family's lifetime and many miles of the earths valuable resources!
Trevor Moore, Crowthorne, Berkshire

It is criminal negligence that the A303 has not been dualled throughout its length. Anyone who knows this road will be aware that all the problems, and most of the accidents, occur on the single-carriageway sections. The inaction on this issue is symptomatic of this country's paralysis in keeping pace with the modern world.
It also demonstrates the Government's contempt for the motorist - merely a 'cash cow' to pay for virtually everything else apart from roads. The back-tracking on the dualling of the A358 and construction of a Henlade bypass is another example of this. Compare our roads to France - it makes me weep !
Nick Sommer

I am 79 years old and had to go to Plymouth for a funeral, the diversion down the A303 was not really a problem, although I knew nothing about it before I left, but coming back what a diabolical journey, 53 miles diversion taking 2 1/2 hours extra petrol to say the least out of my pension, what an absolute disgrace, more warning on the road would have been helpful.
B Stansfield, Farnborough, Hampshire

It's a few road works, nothing new, get over it!
Chris Russell, Glastonbury, Somerset

We travelled westbound on Thursday 25th and got stuck when two lorries collided on the B road, just before we should have rejoined the A303. After an hour, we turned round went south and travelled via the A30 and Yeovil. Today, Sunday, returning Eastbound, we could not believe the sheer stupidity of whoever planned the diversion via A37. In fact the A303 is open beyond the diversion. We did not work out how far up we could have gone, (we went as far as Sparkford) and even at that roundabout, drivers were still travelling on the A303. Since the westbound diversion is quite short, we think we could have gone quite a way up before coming across a different diversion. We ignored the official detour and again travelled on the A30. Could it be that the so-called planners are spreading the load by encouraging drivers to leave much, much earlier than they needed to.
David Chamberlain, Pembury Kent

Having driven the route both ways, how difficult can it be? The signs don't even use words/names - follow the simple shapes for the hard of thinking! Follow them, get there - job done! Those who find "follow the diamond" confusing are probably the ones who have problems with speed limit signs etc. too.
Jay Gee, Ilminster, Somerset

Followed the diversion signs eastbound and was recycled back to Wincanton. Thought we must have got it wrong and tried again paying better attention, same thing. In the end followed the unsigned path of the original 303 and eventually rejoined the new one more by luck than judgment. Lost an hour, had a plane to catch and almost missed it. V frustrating, the signs could and should have been much clearer.
Brian Parker, Somerton, Somerset

Who ever suggested that contractors should stop HGV's going the wrong way must be stupid! Everyone is complaining that it will take 5 weeks, if the contractors were looking at which way traffic was going around them they would probably take 5 years!!! As a regular user of the A303 in both directions I think full Dual Carriage renewals are well over due to make the road safer. Traffic is often at a standstill where the road narrows, naturally at the end of a fast section of Dual Carriageway!
Sam, Shaftesbury, Dorset

I travel from near Wincanton to Andover and back every day and having reached the end of the second week I am somewhat confused by some of the comments above! Yes, it has required a little more patience, and yes I have had to consider carefully which routes I use to minimize the extra time and miles, but overall it has added no more than fifteen minutes onto my journey, apart from one day when I sat behind two articulated lorries which had become wedged in the Deverills having ignored the 7.5 ton!

Overall I have found it pretty straightforward, so I am really not sure how it could have taken anyone four hours from Sherborne to Croydon…. Perhaps they were slowed down by driving all over (what were) the green grass verges (full of snowdrops) of the lanes around mere which have now become a muddy mess! A little more care is all it takes….
Justin, Horsington, Somerset

Since the completion of the M4/M5 link to the south west, the A303 has been "ignored" for regular maintenance. The HA are always thankful of extreme weather (V.hot/V.cold) so that this can be blamed for the poor road surface. I travel up the A303 to London because I am forced to do so by way of licensing requirements and have complained to the HA on a number of occasions to report poor road surfaces. The main problems seem to be in areas where there are drains/sewers running right under the "tracks" made by vehicles. Those of us who run a business with fixed prices have no choice but to use the shortest route between the SW and London. The M5/M4 route is 30 miles extra (60 miles round trip) the time to travel is the same, but this adds to running costs and cannot pass these onto the customer. We all have subsidised competition to contend with, and these additional costs are not good for business. On major closures like the A303, The best option is a 3 shift, 24 hour operation, but it is down to costs. There are additional costs for the HA to do this, but, HEY! why pay additional costs when the travelling public can be inflicted with extra stress in queues/diversions and "we do not have to pay for that"
Kevin Wyatt, Newton Abbot, Devon

This work has already been postoned, due to public outcry - I can't understand why they didn't build a two lane road along side, then when done, move the traffic onto the new section and do the repairs. So then once complete it's a much needed dual carriage way section. Simples.
Sue, Kingston Deverill, Wilts

Have to travel to Hook Hampshire via A303 would it be better to go via M5/M4 Reading turn off?
Roy, Torquay

At the end of the day you will never please Everybody. No matter what you do there are always people that moan and groan. If you are one of them dont drive this road it will make it better for the rest of us!
Nigel, Ilchester

Caroline: The A303 probably would benefit from being a dual carriageway, however I wonder how much "utter chaos" building it would cause? Or do the local people simply believe that the little construction pixies will appear at night and create, as if by magic, a shiny new road?

Chris: Are we the only individuals out there who can read an atlas AND road signs?! Sat Nav is just another excuse for motorists to blame anyone, other than themselves, for the fact that they are unable to follow simple directions. It's slightly scary that some of these people actually have a driving licence! I didn't think I was particularly bright, but obviously I am.... :)
Magic Juan, Teignmouth, Devon

Westbound was not too bad (Tuesday 16thFeb), I did drive quite a few miles before there was a sign confirming I was on a diversion.

However, Eastbound diversion was not well signposted at all. On several roundabouts, there were no signs going on to the r/about. I had to drive right round before seeing a sign.

The worst part was when a queue of traffic appeared and traffic was progressing really slowly. Why? Just coming into Doulting village, there were temporary traffic lights for some works on the road on both sides, one BT Reach and several other vehicles. It would have been good if Highways had checked on works on the diversion. Some parts of road were in bad state of repair also after the recent bad weather. Do Highways actually drive along and check diversion routes?
Lynne Goble, Yateley, Hampshire

Some of these comments are just ridiculous - firstly we've all known about these works for ages; there were public info days and press releases etc. Secondly if someone takes nearly 8 hours to travel from Devon to Surrey, that's not because of a diversion, that's just someone not knowing where they're going - you can drive up the M5 and along the M4 to make the same journey in less than half the time. Thirdly, the suggestion that the Highways Agency repair one side of the road whilst keeping the other side open was obviously made by someone who doesn't know anything about a) roadworks b) health and safety and c) common sense. The amount of plant and equipment, added to the fact there has to be a safety margin between the workforce and travelling public make this impossible - as explained in the aforementioned public information days which I for one took the time to attend. Finally, as for making the A303 a dual carriageway...does anyone know how expensive this would be?

In a time of economic gloom, buying all the land, knocking down houses at the roadside and reprofiling all the junctions is simply not a sensible option. So we each have a bit longer journey to get to our destinations. Oh no! That's awful. our lives have been totally ruined by there roadworks.

By the way, how many people died in Haiti? Idiots.
Adam, Gillingham

on the second day of the closure I encountered 3 arctics making their way through the Deverills on a narrow twisting road with a small bridge which is bound to be damaged. The Highways Agency told me it was the job of the police to stop traffic ignoring the weight limit signs. Are they going to bother about that, until perhaps there is an accident.
Peggy Prior, Warminster, Wiltshire

One other thing of note, the dictionary description of 'chaos' is a "state of complete disorder and confusion". If a few motorists getting lost on a diversion route qualifies as 'chaos', one hates to think what a serious incident would be called (try going to Haiti and ask them for their perspective of chaos). Can people please get a sense of proportion here?
Jeeves, Bristol

I was travelling to visit my mother in Sherborne and found the diversion fine heading West and it put about half an hour on my journey but coming back East was a nightmare. The signs were very poor and on three roundabouts no signs at all and it was only pure chance that I took correct exit. Normally a two and a half hour journey on a good run took me over four hours.
Mrs Weir, Croydon, Surrey

Travelling from East Anglia to Somerset has always been a nightmare and now this!!? The traffic system in this country is dire! Why is all the Eastern traffic routed around the M25 to go west even the public transport? If I could get on a bus or train to get to the South West I would but oh no! I have to go to London wait for over an hour for a connection - twice the journey time!!! (even allowing for all the M25 hold ups!!) If there were a main, direct route across from say Cambridge to Swindon imagine the improved flow on the M25 and probably even the M42/M5/M6 area! As has been said though, never going to happen. Short sightedness stemming back decades!!
Martin Monaghan, Brandon, Suffolk

When people complain about contractors 'not enforcing the weight limit' they have to recognise that only the POLICE have legal powers to do anything. Roadworkers are ordinary members of the public and the only thing they can do is record and report.
Jeeves, Bristol

I travel on the A303 every week from London to Somerset. The diversion is an utter disgrace. Who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to route a major trunk road like the A303 down the B3081 with all its traffic lights and roundabouts? This added at least an hour to my journey time. I feel sorry for the local residents having to suffer all that traffic. Were they consulted about it? I suspect not! As for travelling west, utterly unbelievable. One minute there are signs, the next nothing. I have never seen so many people going round roundabouts more than once, doing U turns all over the place and generally hesitating at junctions, totally lost and confused. How come the rest of Europe can perform road maintenance with minimal disruption while in the UK it causes complete chaos for weeks on end? Thank you BBC for supplying the name of the Highways Agency project manager, I shall be forwarding a complaint to him directly.
Robert Shepherd, Croydon, Surrey

I am a rural postman whose delivery is just off of the A303 and have experienced people who got completely lost. The main problem is people are using SAT NAVS. SAT NAVS always take the shortest route. On one occasion I had a lorry driver ask me how to get back on the A303 and I then saw him 4 times within the next 20 minutes because his SAT NAV was telling him to go along lanes were closed to all but local residents.
Stephen White, Warminster, Wilts

I had to travel from Taunton to Croydon on Sunday night, left at 8pm and back again Monday early afternoon. Decided that posted diversions were far too long and what with lorries decided to do my own. Changed that slightly on the way back and overall travel times extended by about 20 minutes. But the number of cars that seemed not to know where to go and the lorries taking minor roads was shocking. One serious warning, beware of heavy lorries on the B3095 between Mere and Longbridge Deverill. They appear to use this as a 'short' cut. Really the A303 needs upgrading to motorway standard from the M3 to Exeter, especially for the heavy summer traffic. But I can't see that happening so we have to put up with inconvenience.
Norman, Taunton

The diversion signs are simple to follow if you actually READ them & digest the information. I have travelled through these same "appalling" diversions regularly over the last few days whilst working in your beautiful county & whilst they are annoying, the instructions are crystal clear if you actually look where you are going and follow them! A map is always a very good idea for navigation! Hope this helps.
Chris, Halifax, West Yorkshire

Just because we are outside the London sphere of influence, the A303 has been ignored for decades. It is a major route for a large population. We feel helpless, we, road users of the south west who pay the same road tax, petrol prices etc as the rest of UK. THE A303 NEEDS UPGRADING TO DUAL CARRIAGEWAY NOW! Caroline Ross, Frome

We got diverted heading westbound and ended up taking the eastbound diversion in reverse which was an absolute nightmare. Fortunately I don't have to use this road every day for work. After a few days break in Cornwall we actually went up to Gloucester for the last night just so we could have a reasonably stress free journey home. I look forward to complimenting the highways agency for the action they take as a result of these numerous complaints, I won't hold my breath though.
Phil, Amesbury, Wilts

The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version