Progress is continuing on plans for a new £179 million road improvement scheme in Somerset.

Highways England has selected its preferred route for dualling a 30-mile section of the A303 Sparkford and Ilchester.

Formal consultation is scheduled to take place early next year along with the submission of a development consent order planning application.

The move follows the recent announcement of the preferred route for the £1.6 billion upgrade of the A303 further up the road near Stonehenge.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Our major upgrade to the A303, linking the M3 in the south-east and the M5 in the south-west, will create an expressway to boost the regional economy and provide better transport links.

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"As part of this work, the £179 million upgrade between Sparkford and Ilchester will cut congestion, reduce journey times and improve safety for all road users."

Jim O'Sullivan, Highways England chief executive, added: "The A303 is a vital route between the South West and the rest of the country and this upgrade is absolutely necessary to provide much needed capacity and to relieve the congestion which drivers have suffered for years.

"People who responded to our consultation earlier this year demonstrated strong support for option one, which closely follows the route of the existing A303 and so would have less impact on the rural setting.

"We now look forward to continue to work with our partners and the local community to develop more detailed proposals to start construction in 2020."

Two public drop-in events where people can view the preferred route and talk to project experts will take place at Haynes Motor Museum in Wolverlands, Sparkford from 3pm – 7pm on 07 and 10 November.

(LM)