National Highways has confirmed there are no current plans to upgrade the busy Eagle Tavern junction on the A303 in Somerset. Located on a single-carriageway stretch between Ilminster and the Devon border, this staggered junction—named after the nearby pub, now the La Campagna restaurant—is a key route for residents of Chard and neighboring villages travelling to Taunton or Wellington, often as an alternative to the A358 and M5.
The Peninsula Transport Sub-National Transport Body, representing Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset, recently identified improvements to this section of the A303 as a priority in its strategic implementation plan. However, National Highways, responsible for the road’s maintenance and upgrades, stated that due to limited resources, they must focus on “locations of greatest need,” and the Eagle Tavern junction is not currently among their immediate projects.
This junction experiences significant congestion, particularly in summer months, with long tailbacks along Castlemain and Street Ash Lane. It also serves as a critical diversion for vehicles when the A358 is closed or congested, handling heavy farm traffic including tractors.
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Although signalisation could be introduced relatively easily, the staggered design of the junction makes constructing a roundabout challenging without acquiring additional land. The Peninsula Transport plan estimates that addressing capacity and safety concerns on this route could cost around £50 million.
A National Highways spokesperson commented: “We currently do not have plans to improve the Eagle Tavern junction, but we will continue to monitor its performance and progress improvements if necessary. Our priority remains allocating funding and resources to the locations where they are most needed.”