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Below are details of the proposals for Stonehenge announced by the Highways Agency in Feb 2006

 

Options Review and Public Exhibition

Following a Public Inquiry in 2004 into our proposals for improving the A303 past Stonehenge, the Inspector recommended a new dual carriageway should be built, along with a 2.1km long bored tunnel to remove the effects of the road and traffic from Britain's most famous prehistoric site.

However, the cost of the new road has risen significantly since then and so Government Ministers have asked us to undertake a review and identify lower cost options.   Over the coming weeks we will be holding exhibitions to illustrate our identified options and are looking for your feedback, using our online questionnaire (see right hand menu), on the best way forward. You are invited to attend an exhibition at the White Hart Hotel in Salisbury on

 

·                                 Thursday 9th February 2006 from 10 AM to 8 PM

·                                 Friday 10th February 2006 from 10 AM to 8 PM

·                                 Saturday 11th February 2006 from 10 AM to 4 PM

 

or in London at the The Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly on

 

·                                 Friday 17th February 2006 from 10 AM to 8 PM

·                                 Saturday 18th February 2006 from 10 AM to 4 PM

 

Representatives of the Highways Agency and their consultants will be on hand to answer your questions.  In the meantime, you can find out more about the options under consideration under Options for Review and Publications headings in the right hand menu.

 

Selection of options for further review

Five options are now proposed, broadly meeting the objectives of the scheme which are to:

·                                 Remove roads and traffic from the heart of the World Heritage Site around Stonehenge

·                                 Provide a bypass for Winterbourne Stoke

·                                 Reduce accidents and congestion

Each of the options includes a northern bypass for Winterbourne Stoke, a new flyover to carry through traffic over Countess Roundabout which would allow the existing Vistor Centre to be relocated, and the closure of the A344/A303 junction. The options are otherwise outlined below.

 

Published Scheme heard at Public Inquiry

The Published Scheme has a grade-separated junction with the A360 at Longbarrow Crossroads and a 2.1km bored tunnel running south of the existing A303, with the portals beyond the horizon from Stonehenge. The methods of boring the 2.1km tunnel will be reviewed in the light of the discovered ground conditions to determine whether cost savings can be achieved.

 

Northern Route

The best northern option has a grade-separated junction with the A360 to the west of Airman's Corner. It runs south of Larkhill and has a 270m cut & cover tunnel to reduce the adverse effects close to houses. It rejoins the A303 near Countess Roundabout.

 

Southern Route

The best southern option has a grade-separated junction with the A360 south of Longbarrow Crossroads. It follows a series of dry valleys to the south of Stonehenge, before rejoining the A303 east of King Barrow Ridge.

 

Cut & Cover Tunnel

This option follows broadly the same line as the Published Scheme, but would be constructed in open excavation closer to the surface than a bored tunnel. It would therefore be above ground in Stonehenge Bottom, covered by an embankment up to 9m high.

 

Partial Solution

This option would retain the existing single carriageway A303 between Longbarrow Crossroads and King Barrow Ridge, but still close the A344 at its junction with the A303. It offers various options for the end of the Winterbourne Stoke Bypass at Longbarrow Crossroads.

 

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