A303 Stonehenge

[fatboy18]

Had the misfortune to travel along this shocking bit of road this past weekend, why is this section a single carriageway when either side of it are smooth running dual carriageways, total bloody bottleneck causing tailbacks either side. I gave up and headed south then over to Stockbridge to rejoin the 303 further up.

[RizzoTheRat]

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.

[fatboy18]

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.

[fatboy18]

Not sure why it would need a tunnel, but they could lower the road into a cutting as they do with sections of road in Normandy. Something like this
E46
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BrEiPcTTtPHwpbUy9

Edited by fatboy18 on Tuesday 21st March 09:45

[brisel]

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.

This is a very good route

[Saleen836]

brisel said:

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.

This is a very good route

Trouble now with this alternative route is more and more drivers are using it to avoid driving past the stones, so at times it can be only just a bit quicker

[brisel]

Saleen836 said:

Trouble now with this alternative route is more and more drivers are using it to avoid driving past the stones, so at times it can be only just a bit quicker

Damn this forum!

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

[Riley Blue]

brisel said:

Saleen836 said:

Trouble now with this alternative route is more and more drivers are using it to avoid driving past the stones, so at times it can be only just a bit quicker

Damn this forum!

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

It was busy when I last drove it around 20 years ago so good luck!

[Slow.Patrol]

fatboy18 said:

Not sure why it would need a tunnel, but they could lower the road into a cutting as they do with sections of road in Normandy. Something like this
E46
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BrEiPcTTtPHwpbUy9

Edited by fatboy18 on Tuesday 21st March 09:45

This would be a good option. So much of the tailback is due to people slowing down to look at the stones

[caiss4]

Slow.Patrol said:

This would be a good option. So much of the tailback is due to people slowing down to look at the stones

It is exactly that which I really don't understand but then if you live locally and see the stones several times a week I guess you just ignore.

Anyway the story regarding dualling/tunnelling past Stonehenge has been going on for 50 years or more. Each and every time a new proposal is put forward the conservation crowd ultimately get it canned so us locals have to put up with major congestion, rat-running through the villages listed above and all because any road development/tunnel might disturb ancient sites. Can we really not move on from the 3rd century BC?

The last proposal was to tunnel south of the current A303. I don't think a cutting would ever fly as although it would restrict visibility of the stones from the road it would still cause disturbance and still be visually damaging to the overall vista of Salisbury Plain.

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?

[CABC]

caiss4 said:

I don't think a cutting would ever fly as although it would restrict visibility of the stones from the road it would still cause disturbance and still be visually damaging to the overall vista of Salisbury Plain.

?
from most angles the road and cutting would be barely visible, whereas a C20 road is now clearly in site all around.

[CABC]

Slow.Patrol said:

This would be a good option. So much of the tailback is due to people slowing down to look at the stones

not so sure. it's a factor, but it's also a single carriageway with many, many miles of dual either side.
it's just western paralysis, and powerful locals with too much sway.

[Riley Blue]

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?

That would mean an awful lot of people, businesses, activities etc. would need to re-locate and the stones would have to be taken back to Wales...

[Tribal Chestnut]

fatboy18 said:

Had the misfortune to travel along this shocking bit of road this past weekend, why is this section a single carriageway when either side of it are smooth running dual carriageways, total bloody bottleneck causing tailbacks either side. I gave up and headed south then over to Stockbridge to rejoin the 303 further up.

Used to drive along there fairly often so would make sure I was passing early, obviously it’s far worse in summer, but I never had a major issue if I could time it right. If having to leave at a more popular time, I’d typically end up subjecting myself to the monotony that is the M4 instead.

I always thought making it a single carriage way was for ‘safety’ reasons due to folk slowing down for a gawp or taking photos.

[CABC]

Tribal Chestnut said:

I always thought making it a single carriage way was for ‘safety’ reasons due to folk slowing down for a gawp or taking photos.

well, "leaving" it as single carriageway.
I think you're right. there's little to let you know you're about to see the stones and then "look dad....".
that would not be good on a fast dual section.
couple miles of shallow cutting. many problems solved.

[Saleen836]

brisel said:

Saleen836 said:

Trouble now with this alternative route is more and more drivers are using it to avoid driving past the stones, so at times it can be only just a bit quicker

Damn this forum!

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

Will be driving that way myself Sunday morning as off to Thruxton

Slow.Patrol said:

fatboy18 said:

Not sure why it would need a tunnel, but they could lower the road into a cutting as they do with sections of road in Normandy. Something like this
E46
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BrEiPcTTtPHwpbUy9

Edited by fatboy18 on Tuesday 21st March 09:45

This would be a good option. So much of the tailback is due to people slowing down to look at the stones

Traffic became worse when they altered the Longbarrow roundabout, the direction arrows cause a lot of problems, to hide the stones all they really need do is build up the banking a few feet and plant some trees/bushes, problem solved and millions saved

Edited by Saleen836 on Friday 24th March 22:19

Edited by Saleen836 on Monday 27th March 19:32

[LunarOne]

fatboy18 said:

Not sure why it would need a tunnel, but they could lower the road into a cutting as they do with sections of road in Normandy. Something like this
E46
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BrEiPcTTtPHwpbUy9

I thought EVERYBODY on PH knew that THIS is an E46...

[fatboy18]

LunarOne said:

fatboy18 said:

Not sure why it would need a tunnel, but they could lower the road into a cutting as they do with sections of road in Normandy. Something like this
E46
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BrEiPcTTtPHwpbUy9

I thought EVERYBODY on PH knew that THIS is an E46...

Horrid in every way

[thegreenhell]

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?

[ATG]

caiss4 said:

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

millennium