Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 29, The UK Government has officially cancelled the Stonehenge Bypass project, announcing the revocation of the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Development Consent Order 2023. The £2.3 billion road tunnel proposal, located near the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, was approved by the previous administration but suspended following the general election in June 2024. The Department for Transport (DfT) cited “exceptional circumstances” as the reason for halting the project.

The UK’s controversial Stonehenge Bypass project has been cancelled, again

The decision has been welcomed by heritage and environmental groups, including Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS) and the Stonehenge Alliance, both of which opposed the plan over environmental and historical concerns. Archaeologists, environmentalists, and UNESCO had previously expressed worries about potential damage to the ancient monument and its surrounding landscape.

The project aimed to improve the A303 road, which has long faced severe congestion, especially near Stonehenge. The upgrade was expected to enhance road safety and reduce travel times for drivers and local residents. The A303 is a key route in southern England, linking London to the southwest, and currently includes several single-lane sections that struggle to handle high traffic volumes. Heavy goods vehicles frequently use the route, and congestion worsens during holiday periods when the road is heavily travelled by tourists.

Originally awarded in 2022 to a consortium of FCC, BeMo Tunnelling, and Webuild, the project included the construction of a 12 km dual carriageway, featuring a 3.2 km twin-bore tunnel located about 200 meters from Stonehenge. This section was the most controversial part of the proposal due to its proximity to the historic site.

Efforts to upgrade the A303 have been under discussion for several decades, with multiple design options explored over the years. Previous attempts to move the project forward have also been cancelled due to environmental, archaeological, and financial challenges.

Despite the latest cancellation, experts believe the issue of improving the A303 will resurface in the future. As traffic demand continues to rise, calls to modernize the road are expected to persist. Any new proposal, however, may need to consider relocating the tunnel farther from the monument or extending its length to reduce potential impacts on the site.

The area’s complex geological conditions and high water table present significant engineering challenges, making tunneling costly. Moreover, given the archaeological significance of the region, constructing a new surface road remains unlikely. Therefore, while the current project has been halted, discussions around alternative solutions for the A303 corridor are expected to continue, potentially involving new designs that better balance heritage protection with transport needs.