A303 Stonehenge Tunnel
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Scheme Outline
New three kilometre dual-tube bored tunnel to carry the A303 past the National Trust and World Heritage Site of Stonehenge. This will both remove traffic from the existing A303, which runs just a few yards from Stonehenge itself, and provide additional capacity as the existing road is single carriageway. The scheme includes improvements close to the site also, including a bypass at Winterbourne Stoke and a flyover at Countess Roundabout.
As the timeline below demonstrates, Stonehenge is actually the young upstart at this location. Some suggest that the A303 should remain in situ as the original historic monument, and Stonehenge should be put out of the way underground...
On 6 December 2007, the Department for Transport announced that the Stonehenge Tunnel scheme, and all associated works including the flyover at Countess Weir roundabout, the new Stonehenge visitor centre complex and the Winterbourne Stoke bypass have all been cancelled. The scheme up to this point was the result of more than ten years of investigations, consultation and planning. It is not clear what the next step will be, both for Stonehenge as a World Heritage Site that deserves better than a trunk road on its doorstep, and also for Winterbourne Stoke whose residents have been awaiting relief from A303 traffic for decades.
The decision appears to have come at the Ministerial level. It is incredibly rare for such a high-profile scheme as this to be cancelled so late in the day.
Timeline
- Pre-history
- Cross-country track, the Harroway, is formed.
- 3000 BC
- Work on Stonehenge begins.
- 1930s
- A303 routed past Stonehenge along the Harroway.
- 2000
- Highways Agency announces plans to put the A303 in a cut and cover tunnel past Stonehenge's immediate area. This meets environmental opposition because of important archaeology in the area which would be disturbed by the work.
- 2002
- Department for Transport announces larger-scale project including a bored tunnel as part of £5.5bn of road improvements.
- 2004
- Public enquiry. The scheme may yet be altered to include a longer tunnel.
Project Statistics
- Cost
- £470m (risen from initial price of £183 million)
- Finance
- Central Government
- Estimated duration of works
- 2005-2006
- Length of new road
- 8 miles
Progress
- July 2005
- The future of the scheme is now in doubt after the results of ground investigations suggest the scheme could cost £470m. The Department for Transport is undecided as to what will happen next.
- January 2006
- Revised options for the Stonehenge Tunnel will go to public consultation, due to take place in February.
More information
- Website, including details of cancellation
- www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/3659.aspx
With thanks to Tom Yarwood, James Millidge, Andy Hedges, Paul Rowntree, Gerry McKenna and Jim Rayner for information on this page.
