THE A303 at Solstice Park, Amesbury, will be closed for a full weekend, from the evening of Friday, June 25, to Monday, June 28, for the demolition of the old Porton Road Bridge.

The eastbound carriageway will be closed from 8pm on the Friday to 3.30pm on the Sunday while the westbound carriageway will be closed from 10pm on the Friday to 6am on the Monday.

Eastbound traffic will be diverted from Countess roundabout, in Amesbury, along the A345 to Beehive roundabout, at the junction with the C56.

Traffic will then take the C56, The Portway, to the A338, at Winterbourne Gunner, rejoining the A303 at Parkhouse roundabout.

Westbound traffic will be diverted to Salisbury via the A343 at Andover, before joining the A36 and turning on to the A303 at the Wylye interchange.

Ted Hart, Highways Agency project manager, said: "The work is being done over a weekend to avoid affecting business traffic during the week.

"The bridge is made of concrete and steel and has to be broken up and cut into small pieces for removal from the site.

"This is a busy holiday route, which will affect drivers travelling to holiday destinations in the south-west.

"Long-distance travellers are advised to use the M4. Local diversions will be in place and we advise drivers to take additional time for their journeys, as the diversions will add about four miles to their journeys."

Members of the public requiring further information are advised to call 08457 50 40 30.

A new bridge, to be named Solstice Park Bridge, is due to be finished before the existing bridge is demolished.