How could the A303 Stonehenge tunnel benefit you?
Whether you’re heading to the beach or on your way home, the A303 Stonehenge tunnel could make your life a little easier.
The A303 past Stonehenge is a notorious bottleneck and at busy times – especially in the summer – it can take over an hour to travel just a few miles.
Our planned improvements would reduce congestion and unexpected delays, make the road safer and improve journey times. in the future it would typically take just 7 or 8 minutes to travel between Amesbury and Berwick Down.
It’s not just good for holidaymakers and other drivers, the project would benefit local people and businesses, the environment and Stonehenge itself.
Community
Nearby villages are often used as rat runs by traffic trying to avoid queues on the A303, which often dictates when and how people can make local trips.
Thousands of cars would be removed from local doorsteps every day, making it easier for people to go about their daily lives and making villages much more pleasant and peaceful places to live.
Economy
The A303 is a vital connection between the south east and south west of England. At the moment key sections are plagued by congestion making it impossible for businesses to plan journeys accurately – which can directly affect their bottom line and impact the local economy.
The new A303 past Stonehenge would make journeys more reliable, helping to unlock regional economic development, boosting growth in jobs and housing and improving connections between the south east and south west.
Heritage
The World Heritage Site around Stonehenge is cut in two by the noisy, busy A303. Every day on average more than 26,000 cars, lorries and vans pass just 165 metres from the stones. This would be transformed – restoring the Stonehenge landscape to something like its original setting.
The sight and sound of traffic will be removed, and the north and south parts of the World Heritage Site will be reunited – allowing visitors to enjoy the whole landscape
Environment
The physical barrier created by the current A303 makes it impossible for people to fully enjoy the whole World Heritage Site landscape.
Our plans would help people to explore the area more freely with 11 miles of new paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders which will link into existing routes.
Wildlife would benefit too. We’ll be adding to what is already one of the world’s largest areas of chalk grassland and all sorts of animals would be able to move over the tunnel and over four new green bridges
Hear from people themselves
The Stonehenge tunnel is only one of a number of improvements along the A303 and A358 between the south east and south west. Find out more about the upgrades.
