SOMERSET residents will have to wait another two months to find out whether a key section of the A303 will finally be dualled.

Highways England has put forward plans to dual the section between the Podimore and Sparkford roundabouts, which were debated at length at a public inquiry in 2019.

The Department for Transport (DfT) was due to make a final decision on the scheme on December 12, 2019 – but this was delayed first by the general election and then by the Court of Appeal’s ruling against a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

The government has now confirmed that decisions on both the Somerset scheme and large improvements to the A303 near Stonehenge will be taken in mid-July.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps MP confirmed this in a written statement published on the House of Commons website.

He said: “The proposed development by Highways England is for a continuous dual carriageway on the A303 linking the Podimore bypass and the Sparkford bypass.

“We received the Planning Inspectorate’s report on September 12, 2019 and the current deadline for a decision was December 12, 2019.

“The deadline is now extended to July 17, 2020.”

Under the Planning Act 2008, the transport secretary must make a decision on major infrastructure projects within three months of receiving the report from any public inquiry – but this can be extended provided a public statement is made.

Mr Shapps confirmed a decision on proposals for dualling the A303 near Stonehenge (between Amesbury and Berwick Down) would also be published on July 17 (the original deadline having lapsed on April 2).

Highways England has said it is currently finalising the details of the scheme’s design, and could start construction of the Somerset section in early-2021 if the green light was given in July.

A spokesman said: “We’re continuing to plan the scheme on the basis that it will gain its development consent order (DCO).

“Our teams are working hard behind the scenes completing some necessary surveys looking at drainage and the topography of the local area, and finalising the detailed design for the scheme.

“We currently anticipate starting on site in early-2021; this is later than we’d originally planned.

“This is a consequence of the extended DCO process, and reflects the fact that some of the first tasks we’ll have on site, specifically environmental activities, need to be done at certain times in the year.”