South West - Maintenance schemes

We recognise the environmental value of trees. We manage our trees through their whole lifecycle, to control safety risk and optimise the environmental value provided by trees. 

In the South West we manage a large estate including significant areas of woodland by the side of our roads. Our tree specialists carry out regular inspections for safety and general woodland management. 

We also have a legal obligation to ensure our strategic road network remains safe to road users and the trees in our care do not pose a hazard to adjacent property. Where possible we will make trees safe, and as a last resort remove dead or dying trees when advised to do so by our specialists. 

Ash dieback is significant across the South West region. It has spread rapidly to the trees alongside our roads over recent years. 

Regrettably, surveys by our specialists have found dry conditions and increased temperatures have increased stress on already diseased trees and many ash trees are deteriorating quickly. A large proportion are now dead or dying and pose a potential safety risk, leaving us with no alternative other than to make them safe or remove them. 

Over the coming months, we'll remove or make safe ash trees identified for urgent action. We'll also be replanting trees in some locations. 

We'll be removing and replanting in the following locations: 

• A303 both directions between Horton, near Illminster, and the A303 Junction with the A350, near Chicklade. 
• A38 between the Turfdown roundabout, near Coleslogget Halt, and the Saltash junction with the B3271 
• A38 between the Plymouth Tamar Bridge roundabout and Kennford Exeter. 

The tree work will start on Monday 6 January and will last approximately 12 weeks. 

Traffic management will include a combination of lanes closures and complete carriageway closures depending on the work taking place. If needed, diversion routes will be fully signposted. 

The work will take place on weekdays only. 

Ash dieback is a national issue and more information from the Forestry Commission can be found here.

Tree Council - Ash dieback a tree owners guide

We’re resurfacing a 4.5km section of the A303 through the village of Winterbourne Stoke in Wiltshire. 

The works will take place in both directions between Longbarrow roundabout (situated to the west of Amesbury) up to the start of the dual carriageway section to the west of Winterbourne Stoke. This will maintain and improve safety for everyone using the road and reduce the need for any unplanned closures.

We’ll be carrying out this work via a mix of weeknight closures, as well as one full weekend closure. Works will start from the evening of Monday 31 March. 

Access will be maintained to properties on the A303 directly within the closure. Please speak to the site team at the nearest closure point to be escorted through the works.

Weeknight closures - Monday 31 March – Friday 02 May 

We’ll undertake the majority of the works via overnight closures (Monday – Friday, from 9pm to 6am) in both directions between Longbarrow Roundabout and the A36 junction to the west of Winterbourne Stoke. This includes the road through the village of Winterbourne Stoke.

The A303 will be open as usual during the day and at weekends. Please also note, we will not be working over the Easter weekend from 17 April – 21 April.

Full weekend closure from 9pm on Friday 25 April until 6am on Monday 28 April

A section of the resurfacing works will be undertaken via one full weekend closure. The full weekend closure of the A303 will be between Longbarrow Roundabout and the A36 junction to the west of Winterbourne Stoke. This closure includes the road through the village of Winterbourne Stoke. 

The teams will be working 24/7. 

Diversion information

Well signed diversions will be in place in both directions. 

Through traffic diversions

Light vehicles (under 14ft) - eastbound traffic will:

• follow the A303
• the A36 down to Wilton
• back up the A360 to Longbarrow Roundabout

For westbound traffic, follow in reverse.  

HGV’s (over 14ft) - eastbound traffic will:

• follow the A303
• then A36 up to the B390 junction to Chitterne
• follow the B390 through Chitterne toward Shrewton
• join the A360 then the B3086
• rejoin the A303 at Longbarrow Roundabout

For the westbound diversion, folllow in reverse. 

To access Winterbourne Stoke

Diversion routes for Winterbourne Stoke will be via the above routes plus the B3083 either side of the A303 closure. Please note, there will be no through access on the B3083 north / south of the A303 during the closures.

This work is subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress. If we’re unable to complete our work as planned, we may need to continue beyond the dates stated above. 

Please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journeys. 

We will do all that we can to keep disruption to a minimum with the nosiest works undertaken before 11pm each night. However, we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

We'll be working 6am to 6pm on weekdays only from Tuesday 6 May until Tuesday 13 May.

Traffic management

Two-way temporary traffic lights between Highbury Avenue and Finchley Road (located on the A36 down Wilton Road). 

We'll close the footpath during our works. There will be a well signed diversion route for pedestrians.

The bus stop on the north side will also be temporarilly out of service. This will help limit congestion through temporary traffic signals. 

We'll maintain access to properties throughout. 

If we’re unable to complete our work as planned, we may need to continue work beyond these dates.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

Work

We’re adjusting the roadside safety barriers on the A38 at Notter Bridge. 

To keep disruption to a minimum, we’ll be working overnight when traffic flows are at their lowest. 

Closures

Friday 04 April

We will have three-way traffic lights in place overnight (8pm – 6am)

Saturday 05 April and Sunday 06 April

The road will be closed overnight (8pm – 6am) on both nights, in both directions. 

Diversions

During the overnight closures, well signed diversions will be in place:

Light vehicles

Travelling westbound, you will take:

• the A388 to Callington
• the A390 to Liskeard

Travelling eastbound, will be in reverse.

HGVs

Travelling westbound, you will take:

• the A388 to Launceston
• join the A30

Travelling eastbound, will be in reverse

Access will be maintained for properties directly within the closure area. Please speak to the site team to be escorted through the works.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We’ll be working overnight on weeknights only, when there is less traffic on the road.

Closures

We'll need these overnight (8pm – 6am) closures on weeknights from Tuesday 22 April to Wednesday 30 April.

• Eastbound entry and exit slip roads on A38 at Lower Clicker
• Central reservation gap on A38 at Lower Clicker

Diversions

If you want to use the eastbound exit slip at Menheniot:

Take the surrounding roads on the local road network, prior to Lower Clicker Junction

If you want to join the A38 from the eastbound entry slip at Menheniot:

Take the surrounding roads on the local road network to join the eastbound A38

If you use the central reservation gap to travel eastbound:

• leave the A38 westbound via Island Shop exit slip
• rejoin the A38 eastbound via A38 Island Shop entry slip

If you use the central reservation gap to travel westbound:

• use the A38 Trerulefoot Roundabout
• rejoin the A38 westbound carriageway

Convoy system through works

We’ll use a convoy system on the eastbound A38. This means:

• the A38 stay open
• you will be taken through the working area behind one of our vehicles, at a reduced speed. 

Local access

We'll maintain access to:

• properties with access only from A38
• access to the mainline bus stop at Lower Clicker for night-time buses.

Please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journeys. 

If we’re unable to complete our work as planned, we may need to continue beyond these dates. We'll update details here.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We’ll work overnight (8pm – 6am) from Tuesday 29 April – Friday 2 May, when there is less traffic on the road. 

During the day the road will be open as usual.

Closures

Tuesday 29 April to Friday 2 May - A38 westbound entry and exit slip roads, Petersfield

Closed overnight (8pm to 6am).

There will also be:

• one lane closed on the westbound A38
• temporary traffic lights overnight on the local roads surrounding the slip roads

Diversions

If you want to use the westbound exit slip:

• take the A38 to Twelvewood Roundabout
• leave the roundabout into Dobwalls village

If you want to join the A38 from the westbound entry slip at Petersfield:

• go through the village of Dobwalls
• join the A38 at Twelvewoods Roundabout

If we’re unable to complete our work as planned, we may need to continue beyond these dates. We'll update these details if we have to do so.

Please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journeys. 

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We’re surveying the A40 between Highnam and Over roundabouts. 

We’ll work overnight (8pm and 6am) Monday to Friday only. This is when there's the least traffic.

During the day the road will be open as usual.

Traffic management 

Monday 7 April

• lane 1 closed
• link road coming from Gloucester City to the A40 westbound closed.

Tuesday 8 April to Wednesday 16 April

• lane 2 closed
• right turn lane closed from the A40 into Horseshoe Drive 

Lane closures include the bus lane.

Diversion

• take the A40 westbound to Highnam Roundabout
• then return on the A40 eastbound

We'll maintain access to properties within the works area throughout. 

You may experience more noise during works. We apologise for any disturbance.

We may need to work beyond these dates if we can't complete our work as planned, For instance, due to bad weather. If we need more time, we'll update details on this page.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We are carrying out essential maintenance work on the A419 and A417.

The work will include maintenance to structures, including joint replacements, and surfacing work. 

To carry out this work safely we will need to close the roads.

Closures

The A417, between the Air Balloon Roundabout and A46 Shurdington Road Junction, will be closed weeknights only, between the hours of 8pm and 6am, from Monday 7 April to Saturday 12 April. 

The A419, between the A420 White Hart Roundabout and the Turnpike/Lady Lane Junction, will be closed for a full weekend from 8pm on Thursday 24 April to 6am Monday 28 April. 

The A419 southbound carriageway will be closed between the Lady Lane Junction and the A420 White Hart Roundabout Junction on weeknights only, between the hours of 8pm and 6am, from Monday 28 April and Thursday 1 May. 

The A419 and A417 will be open as normal between these closures. 

Diversion routes will be fully sign posted. Please follow the diversion route not sat navs. 

Noise disruption

Due to the nature of the work we are carrying out there will be times when the work will cause some noise disruption. Every effort will be made to keep the noise to a minimum and we will plan the work to take place at times which will cause least disruption, but please note that this will not always be possible.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

You'll find more information ion this scheme on our page Safety schemes in the South West region.

We’re renewing and maintaining roadside safety barriers across the South West. 

Traffic management

We'll work weeknights only (Monday to Friday). We won't work during the day, over weekends, or during bank holiday weekends.

We'll use a mixture of:

• overnight (8pm to 6am) lane closures
• temporary traffic lights
• convoy systems - you'll be escorted through works behind a one of our vehicles at reduced speed.

If we need diversions, they'll be fully signposted. 

We’ll be working at 114 locations across the region. Works started on 31 March and will last approximately 20 weeks. 

We'll be working overnight at these locations:

Wiltshire - early to mid April, late May to mid June

M4 both directions
A36 southbound
A303 both directions

Gloucestershire - early April, early to mid-May, late June

M4 westbound
M5 both directions
A40 both directions 

Devon - mid to late April, late May, mid July to mid-August

M5 both directions
A38 both directions 

Somerset - late April to early May, mid-May to early June

M5 both directions
A303 eastbound 

Cornwall - late June to mid July, mid-August

A30 both directions
A38 both directions

Access to local properties

If you live close to where we're working, we'll contact you before we start. We'll maintain access for you throughout our works.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.