Tunnel Proposal under England’s Stonehenge World Heritage Site
The government has gone out to consultation on its plans to improve the A303 around Stonehenge.
Road users and local residents are being invited to have their say on the proposal to construct a 1.8-mile dual carriageway tunnel and to upgrade a seven-mile single carriageway stretch of the A303 in Wiltshire into a dual carriageway, which will improve journey times, remove the sight and sound of traffic, and enhance the world heritage site of Stonehenge.
The 2014 Road investment strategy committed to upgrading all remaining sections of the A303 between the M3 and M5 motorways to dual carriageway standard, starting with three schemes:
- Stonehenge
- Between Sparkford and Ilchester
- Between Taunton and Southfields.
The Stonehenge scheme proposals also include a bypass for the village of Winterbourne Stoke and improvements to existing junctions between the A303 and the intersecting A345 and A360 north-south roads.
Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said “Our plans for the A303 recognise the national importance of the route and these improvements will bring real benefit to the region and local communities. The public exhibitions will provide an excellent opportunity to explain further our plans and to hear feedback from stakeholders on our proposals to deliver the scheme.”
The consultation runs between 12th January and 5th March 2017. Following the consultation, the preferred route will be announced later in the year, and subject to the completion of statutory procedures for development consent.
