A303 Stonehenge

[ToTheBrapMobile]

brisel said:

Damn this forum!

I’m doing the route on Sunday though for fun, not to avoid the A303, so will report back.

Interested in how this went. Have just bought a Clio RS200 and live near amesbury so want to get a good map of the best roads around south wilts put together

[fatboy18]

ATG said:

caiss4 said:

Can we really not move on from the 3rd century BC?

millennium

So all around the Stonehenge area are earth mounds with some distance between them and I can understand conservation, BUT what I don't get is on the left hand side just after Stonehenge on the 303 are two houses tucked behind trees with one of these earth mounds in their front garden! How the hell were these homes allowed to be built in a heritage area? Then opposite these houses there are the tree huggers and a bunch of run down caravans which should also be removed IMO. Lets also not forget that the Stonehenge we see now is different to how it was in the 50s, as in the 50s they rebuilt part of it!

I totally agree we need to move on and widen this bit of road sticking it into a deep cutting out of site from the stones, it does not need a full tunnel.

[the tribester]

As soon as they break ground, they'll find ancient burial grounds, and the project will be delayed and delayed whilst archeologists spend months on their hands and knees.

[brisel]

ToTheBrapMobile said:

Interested in how this went. Have just bought a Clio RS200 and live near amesbury so want to get a good map of the best roads around south wilts put together

Little traffic today.

B390
B3089
Tidworth to Bulford road
Most of the roads around Stockbridge
A360

[caiss4]

thegreenhell said:

caiss4 said:

As I understand it, at the time the stones were put in place Salisbury Plain was forested. If we really are going to be slaves to preservation why not re-forest the area around the stones and return the Plain to its original state?

How did they see the sunrise on the Solstice if it was surrounded by trees?

Who says they wanted to see the sunrise?

[caiss4]

ATG said:

caiss4 said:

Can we really not move on from the 3rd century BC?

millennium

[ToTheBrapMobile]

brisel said:

Little traffic today.

B390
B3089
Tidworth to Bulford road
Most of the roads around Stockbridge
A360

All great roads.
My route to work is Upper Woodford to Trowbridge. Along the A360 and then cutting in towards Worton to pick up the A361. Great 40 minute commute, roads are fast, flowing and comparatively clear when you look at how the A36 gets at 8am...

[TrotCanterGallopCharge]

Even if the road is made faster past Stonehenge, unless there is a coordinated plan, all you're doing is putting the bottleneck further down the road to the next single carriage part.

Screening it off may help improve flow of traffic past, as others have said.

[808 Estate]

Yes just plant some hedge rows. Stones dissappear, trafic flows normally. WIldlife happy.

[the tribester]

Travelling West you pass the stones, on a single lane road, where HGVs have a limit of 50mph, then hit a roundabout. A few bushes won't speed that up much.

[Saleen836]

the tribester said:

Travelling West you pass the stones, on a single lane road, where HGVs have a limit of 50mph, then hit a roundabout. A few bushes won't speed that up much.

You are correct, when the powers that be decided that roundabout (Longbarrow) needed to be altered there was a noticeable slowing of traffic flow with the new layout, it needs replacing with entry/exit slip roads for the A360 along with a flyover or underpass

[fatboy18]

Saleen836 said:

the tribester said:

Travelling West you pass the stones, on a single lane road, where HGVs have a limit of 50mph, then hit a roundabout. A few bushes won't speed that up much.

You are correct, when the powers that be decided that roundabout (Longbarrow) needed to be altered there was a noticeable slowing of traffic flow with the new layout, it needs replacing with entry/exit slip roads for the A360 along with a flyover or underpass

100%they also do not have to be massive exit ramps carving up a huge area of land it could all be done sympathetic way

Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 10th April 11:39

[RizzoTheRat]

I hate that they put screens on some of the roundabouts to block your sight line so you have to virtually stop before entering the roundabout. Presumably because there had been people flying on to the roundabout too fast and causing accidents but it seems wierd to reduce sightlines in order to improve safety.

[Tony B2]

RizzoTheRat said:

I hate that they put screens on some of the roundabouts to block your sight line so you have to virtually stop before entering the roundabout. Presumably because there had been people flying on to the roundabout too fast and causing accidents but it seems wierd to reduce sightlines in order to improve safety.

This tactic is straight out of The Urbanist Traffic Management Handbook (Route to 2030 Edition).

Rule 101: When in doubt make it difficult/dangerous for anyone using motorised transport, as They will feel threatened and slow down.

These people walk amongst us.....

[livinginasia]

RizzoTheRat said:

They've been talking about building a tunnel for years. If you want to avoid that section it's quite a nice drive to turn right at the Amesbury roundabout and go Larkhill, Shrewton, Chittern, the Deverills and rejoin the A303 at Mere.

I remember, back in the 90s when I was young and speed cameras didn’t exist, taking this route to visit my parents early on Sunday mornings.

140mph on my GSXR 750 along those lovely straights was better than coffee to wake me up.

Those were the days !