The new bridge is lifted into position. DA5008P17THE six-mile stretch of the A303 trunk road between Parkhouse and Amesbury might have been peaceful over the weekend but the same could not be said for roads through Amesbury, the Bourne Valley and in and around Salisbury.

The stretch of the A303 was closed from Friday evening through to Monday morning, to allow engineers to lower into place two 95-ton bridge spans that will eventually become the new Solstice Park flyover.

Traffic was diverted westbound from Andover and Parkhouse on to the A343, A30 or A338 and headed towards Salisbury, while eastbound traffic was diverted at Countess roundabout through Amesbury and then to the Beehive roundabout on the outskirts of Salisbury, along the Portway at Old Sarum to the A338 at Winterbourne Gunner, heading for Parkhouse.

Massive transporters brought the huge bridge spans by road and they were lifted into place by giant cranes.

The A303 is likely to be closed again in the near future, when contractors demolish the old bridge, which at present remains alongside the new one.

Residents in the Bourne Valley and through Old Sarum put up with almost constant traffic throughout Saturday and Sunday, and Amesbury was described as like Picadilly Circus during the rush hour.

Amesbury resident Andy Rhind-Tutt said the weekend's diversions were "a taste of what is to come", if and when the Stonehenge Tunnel is built.

The A303 is to be closed for two nights next week near Chicklade, where work will begin on Monday to resurface the carriageway, damaged in an accident in December.

It will take two nights to complete and the A303 will be closed from 9pm to 5.30am on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Westbound traffic will be diverted on to the A350 at Furzehedge, then the B3089, before rejoining the A303 at Willoughby Hedge. Eastbound traffic will follow the reverse diversion route.