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| Stone Formation Archive 2002 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
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published on 12 December 2002 THE government has given the go-ahead for a scheme to build a road tunnel under Stonehenge. Yesterday it was confirmed that 1.3 miles of the A303 holiday route will be carried in a tunnel that will be bored under the World Heritage Site to that visitors to Stonehenge in future would have a traffic free vista. The tunnel had been chosen in preference to a cut and cover proposal which would have been cheaper but which was feared would do fare more damage to the archaeology of the area. Before it can proceed however the controversial plan will be the subject of a public inquiry that will be held next autumn. It is anticipated that work on the tunnel could start in 2005 and take three years to complete. A spokeman for English Heritage said: "We welcome the Transport Secretary's decision for a 2.1 km bored tunnel on the A303 adjacent to Stonehenge. "Today's news is an important moment in Stonehenge's 5,000 year history. It means that Stonehenge gets the dignified setting it so justly deserves, the roads are made safer and the core area of the WHS landscape is reunited." English Heritage said a tunnel is a huge improvement on the cut and cover proposal. The £183 million scheme also includes building a bypass at Winterbourne Stoke, a new junction at Long Barrow Crossroads and a flyover at the Countess roundabout by Amesbury. A spokesman for the Highway Agency that will build the tunnel said it was a historic day for Stonehenge. He spokesman said environmental issues had always been the main concern and that a bored tunnel would help ensure that archaeology in the top layers of the ground would remain undisturbed. Back to 2002 index |
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