The tunnel’s construction is expected to reduce traffic across the A303. Credit: Inja Pavlić via Unsplash.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has given its approval for the two-mile tunnel project from Amesbury to Berwick Down, under the Stonehenge site in Wiltshire.

The proposals for this £1.7bn project were initially given consent in 2020. However, it was later revoked by the country’s High Court in 2021 following opposition from local campaigners.

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According to National Highways, the tunnel’s construction is expected to lessen traffic congestion on the A303 road.

National Highways’ CEO Nick Harris said: “The decision follows a lot of work on a comprehensive year-long process to reassess our Development Consent Order, looking in detail at possible alternatives, also including cumulative carbon and heritage issues.

“It means we’re now a step closer to solving the longstanding issues of congestion and delays on the existing A303, improving journeys for all our customers and bringing much-need relief to local communities.

“The investment, along with other improvements along the A303, will help to boost the South West [UK] economy, improve journey reliability, remove the sight and sound of traffic from this very busy road and return one of our most important World Heritage Sites [Stonehenge] to something like its original setting.”

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The major contractor for the road renovation is the three-way MORE joint venture, comprising Spanish contractor FCC Construction, Italy-based Webuild, and Austria-based BeMo Tunnelling.

The scope of this project includes the development of the civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and technical components of the proposed tunnel, including the tunnel boring machine, as well as the improvement of approach roadworks and related structures over a five-year construction period.

Meanwhile, the Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site campaign, consisting of archaeologists, environmental organisations, and druids, won the last legal challenge but has sought legal advice to convince the court to undertake another judicial review.