Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling announced the preferred route for upgrading the A303 at Stonehenge this week.
As part of the biggest government investment in roads in a generation, the £1.6 billion scheme includes the construction of a tunnel past one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, a free-flowing, mile-a-minute dual carriageway and a much-needed bypass north of Winterbourne Stoke.
Highways England is hosting drop-in sessions where members of the public are invited to call in to see the proposals and to discuss the preferred route with the project team.
Consultation on the proposed upgrade between Amesbury and Berwick Down attracted considerable feedback earlier this year and Highways England has used this to inform its choice of preferred route, including moving the position of the western portal to avoid conflict with the solstice alignment.
Highways England project director Derek Parody said:
We are pleased to offer an opportunity for people to find out what happens next and to understand the benefits we are working to deliver.
We have listened to feedback from more than 9,000 people and organisations in our consultation earlier this year, and from this, and further surveys and studies, we can move forward with a solution to help improve traffic flow, reduce rat running on surrounding roads, bringing improvements to local communities and benefits to the South West economy, while at the same time enhancing and protecting one of the UK’s most iconic landscapes.
We will continue to work with all our heritage partners, and local communities to help shape the scheme’s future development, and we look forward to giving everyone an opportunity to see the revised preferred route at these public sessions.
Further consultation on the details of the route will take place in 2018, but in the meantime, the public will be able to view information, including copies of the preferred route booklet, and meet members of the Highways England project team at this month’s drop-in sessions.
The events will take place at:
The Manor Barn, High Street, Winterbourne Stoke SP3 4SZ
- Saturday 16 September 11am to m5pm
- Friday, 29 September 2pm to 8pm
Antrobus House, 39 Salisbury Road, Amesbury SP4 7HH
- Friday, 22 September 2pm to 8pm
- Saturday, 23 September 11am to 5pm
Details of the preferred route are also available on the scheme consultation page.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.
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