Survey work at Countess Roundabout.....

This just in from Highways England https://highwaysengland.co.uk/a303-stonehenge-project

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Survey work for A303 Stonehenge scheme enters next phase

The next stage of survey work in preparation for the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down improvement scheme (near Stonehenge) will focus on Countess roundabout.

For three weeks a night time lane closure will be in place during the week nights only (between 8pm and 6am) for teams to investigate drainage and sewage.

Derek Parody, Highways England Project Director, said: “Our ongoing survey work in no way pre-empts the outcome of the Development Consent Order examination. The surveys are taking place to help bidders with their tenders, ensure there is no delay to the programme and put us in a position to be able to start construction on schedule in 2021, providing consent is given.

“And while the work continues around Countess Roundabout, we’d like to thank local communities and road users in advance for their patience.”

Following these surveys there will be a further six weeks of ground investigations work taking place at Countess Roundabout from the start of November. This work will involve the drilling of boreholes and shallow trial pits with lane closures in place for safety reasons. Highways England is advising drivers to allow extra time for their journeys.

Following the launch of an 18-month procurement process in July, the project reached another milestone at the beginning of October with the conclusion of the six-month DCO examination.

Next steps are for the planning inspectors to review the DCO application, they have three months to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, who is expected to make a decision in spring 2020.

To find out more information on the examination process please visit the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Highways England’s proposed upgrade of the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down aims to unlock congestion along this vital route, conserve and enhance the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site, benefit the local and regional economy and tackle the rat-running issue for local communities. Key features of the scheme include:

• A bypass to the north of Winterbourne Stoke with a viaduct over the River Till valley
• A new junction at Longbarrow connecting to the A360
• A 2-mile tunnel through the World Heritage Site past Stonehenge
• A new junction between the A303 and A345 at the existing Countess Roundabout