A controversial plan for a road tunnel past Stonehenge has finally been agreed by the government after one of the longest running sagas in infrastructure.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling said the plan will “transform” the A303, “cutting congestion and improving journey times”. The busy A303 currently passes within a few hundred metres of the ancient monument. The 1.8 mile (2.9km) dual carriageway tunnel forms part of a £2bn government scheme to upgrade all remaining sections of the road between the M3 and M5.
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However, campaign group Stonehenge Alliance believes any tunnel shorter than 2.7 miles (4.3km) would do “irreparable damage to the landscape”. Chairman of Amesbury Museum and Heritage Trust, Andy Rhind-Tutt, described the tunnel plan as a “self-destructing time bomb” which would “do nothing” for traffic problems in the area.
Plans for a tunnel past the Stonehenge site have had a long and checkered history with proposals for a bored tunnel first mooted in 1995. Since then the proposal has been through various incarnations.
A public consultation to get the views of drivers and residents will run until 5 March.
English Heritage and the National Trust have also given their support to the option of “the longest tunnel possible”.
Highways England’s 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.”
Image: Justin Black/Dreamstime.com
