Detailed plans to upgrade A303 at Stonehenge to go on show
Refined plans for major improvements to journeys on the A303 near Stonehenge will go on show next week.
Highways England has been working hard to develop the design for the £1.6 billion scheme since the preferred route was announced last September, and the details will be unveiled when consultation launches on Thursday, 8 February.
Following public consultation earlier in 2017 and further engagement with local communities, heritage groups, archaeologists, historians and engineers, Highways England modified the plans, including moving the position of one of the entrances to the tunnel to avoid conflicting with the solstice alignment.
As part of its £15 billion road strategy – the biggest investment in roads in a generation – the Government is committed to upgrading all remaining single carriageway sections of the A303/A358 between the M3 and M5 to dual carriageway standard.
This is starting with three schemes: the A303 at Stonehenge, the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester; and the A358 between the M5 Taunton and the Southfields Roundabout on the A303.
The A303 Stonehenge upgrade, including a tunnel at least 1.8 miles long, a free-flowing dual carriageway and a much-needed bypass north of Winterbourne Stoke, will improve journey times for millions of people.
This major investment will support economic growth and tourism in an area where congestion and slow journeys have long had a negative impact on the South West’s economy.
The region is lagging 24% behind the national economy despite having the UK’s highest domestic tourism expenditure at £4.5bn a year. Effective transport links along the A303 corridor are critical to advancing the region’s economy – making it feel closer to London and the south east will make it more attractive for business, help to create jobs and bring opportunities and prosperity for people.
A tunnel near Stonehenge will also remove the traffic blight on local communities and enhance the famous landmark. It will reconnect the two halves of the 6,500-acre World Heritage site, which is currently split by the road, and remove the sight and sound of traffic from the Stonehenge landscape.
Since the preferred route was announced in September, Highways England have refined details of the proposals and the statutory consultation, between 8 February and 6 April, will offer the public and all interested parties the chance to see the progressed plans, and to offer feedback.
Derek Parody, Highways England Project Director for the A303 Stonehenge scheme, said: “The Stonehenge upgrade, along with the other two initial A303 Corridor schemes, will enable growth in jobs and housing by providing a free-flowing and reliable connection between the South East and the South West.
“We have incorporated contributions from all the previous consultation to create the details of the proposed scheme. We are currently working with stakeholders, carrying out further surveys, and using assessments to help us refine the design.
“This is an opportunity for everyone to give their views on our proposals and we would like as much feedback as possible, from all interested parties. Feedback from the consultation will allow us to make sure we have got the best scheme, or highlight where we still need to make changes, before we make our application to build the scheme.”
A total of 14 public consultation events, offering people the chance to see the proposals and meet with members of the project team, will be held at the following:
- Friday, 9 February – Antrobus House, 39 Salisbury Road, Amesbury SP4 7HH, 2pm-8pm
- Saturday, 10 February – Antrobus House, 39 Salisbury Road, Amesbury SP4 7HH, 11am-5pm
- Thursday, 22 February – Kennet Valley Village Hall (Avebury), Overton Road, Lockeridge, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4EL, 2pm-8pm
- Friday, 23 February – Warminster Civic Centre, Sambourne Road, Warminster, BA12 8LB, 2pm-8pm
- Saturday, 24 February – Shrewton Village Hall, Recreation Ground, The Hollow, Shrewton, SP3 4JY, 11am-5pm
- Tuesday, 27 February – The Laverton Hall, Bratton Road, Westbury, BA13 3EN, 2pm-8pm
- Thursday, 1 March – Mere Lecture Hall, Salisbury Street, Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6HA, 2pm-8pm
- Saturday, 3 March – The Guildhall, Salisbury, The Market Place, Salisbury, SP1 1JH, 11am-5pm
- Thursday, 8 March – Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BE, 12 noon-8pm
- Friday, 9 March – The Manor Barn, High Street, Winterbourne Stoke, SP3 4SZ, 2pm-8pm
- Saturday, 10 March – The Manor Barn, High Street, Winterbourne Stoke, SP3 4SZ, 11am-5pm
- Tuesday, 13 March – Avon Valley College, Durrington, SP4 8HH, 2pm-8pm
- Wednesday, 14 March – Larkhill Primary School, Wilson Road, Larkhill, SP4 8QB, 2pm-8pm
- Friday, March 23, Antrobus House, 39 Salisbury Road, Amesbury SP4 7HH, 2-8pm
And consultation details will also be available to view, from 8 February to 6 April, at the following information points:
- Amesbury Library, Smithfield Street, Amesbury SP4 7AL
- Tidworth Leisure Centre, Nadder Road, Tidworth SP9 7QW
- Salisbury Library, Market Place, Salisbury SP1 1BL
- Wiltshire Council Offices, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge BA14 8JN
- Wilton Library, South Street, Wilton SP2 0JS
- Devizes Community Hub and Library, Sheep Street, Devizes SN10 1DL
- Warminster Library, 3 Horseshoe Walk, Warminster BA12 9BT
- Marlborough Library, 91 High Street, Marlborough SN8 1HD
- Westbury Library, Westbury House, Edward, Street, BA13 3BD
- Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Near Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7DE
- County Hall, Trowbridge, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge BA148JN
- History Centre, Chippenham TBC
In the meantime, anyone wanting further information on the scheme can go to www.highways.gov.uk/a303stonehenge
