Three month closure of A360 for Stonehenge road scheme officially postponed
Work was due to begin in September as part of the A303 road project
Last updated 5th Aug 2021
The three-month closure of the A360, for the controversial Stonehenge road scheme, has officially been postponed.
In June, Highways England announced a five-mile stretch of the A360 would be shut from September to December.
A full closure was planned to allow high voltage electricity cables to be installed, for future construction and the tunnel.
Last week, the High Court ruled the government's decision to approve the controversial scheme was "unlawful".
The ruling quashed the Transport Secretary's development consent order and the department is now considering how to proceed.
As a result, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks have now delayed the A360 works - which were due to begin in the first week of next month.
That will offer relief to residents in the Woodford Valley, who had raised concerns about extra traffic - particularly lorries.
Archaeological fieldwork and preliminary works, which were due to start later this summer, have also been paused.
Meanwhile, Highways England says it's committed to progressing the construction contracts process.
Three offers have been submitted for the tunnel and main works contract. The preferred bidder is expected to be announced in early 2022.
Highways England is also procuring a Delivery Assurance Partner to support in managing the delivery of the A303 Stonehenge main works contract. It is anticipated that the £60 million deal will be awarded late this year.
'We still believe our project is the best solution'
David Bullock, Highways England’s Project Manager for the A303 Stonehenge scheme, said:
“We have to wait while the Department for Transport considers its options, and in the meantime we are continuing with the process to appoint a contractor for the main works phase of the scheme.
“We have now paused our plans to carry out early, preparatory work, but the procurement process is very much live, to ensure we maintain programme timescales as best as possible.
“We still believe our project is the best solution to the ongoing issues along the A303 past Stonehenge, it has been developed after a long and extensive collaboration with our key stakeholders.
"We are still very much motivated to leave a legacy beyond the road – for Stonehenge, the World Heritage Site, our local communities and future generations".
Mr Bullock added: “In terms of our initial work, we plan to update local communities via a virtual public information event when we know a little more.
"In the interim, we are continuing to communicate our plans with all stakeholders and interested parties".