A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Improving Journeys, Reuniting the Stonehenge Landscape
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A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Improving journeys, reuniting the Stonehenge landscape Autumn 2018 Improving journeys, reuniting the Stonehenge landscape Contents 1. Foreword ...........................................................................2 2. Increasing connectivity to the South West ..................... 3 3. Developing our application .............................................. 4 4. Next steps for our application........................................ 25 5. Working with you ............................................................26 Contact us ............................................................................. 28 A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down About this booklet This booklet explains the scheme we have submitted for development consent and how consultation has helped shape our plans. It sets out the key elements of the scheme, refl ecting its development since consultation. The booklet also provides a ready reference to important information for those wanting to engage in the Planning Inspectorate’s examination of our proposals. 1 Improving journeys, reuniting the Stonehenge landscape 1. Foreword Thank you for taking an interest in our Development Consent Order (DCO) application for upgrading the A303 This application is the most important step past Stonehenge between Amesbury and Berwick Down. Over the past two forward over the past 30 years towards years, we have carried out three public improving the A303 at Stonehenge, consultations to help shape the best a once-in-a-generation opportunity to possible scheme for this iconic, world- renowned landscape. improve this iconic landmark. Highways England is committed to delivering a high quality, high- performing, dual carriageway route along the A303/A358 corridor between the South West and the South East. Removing the traffi c bottleneck past Stonehenge will improve connectivity and help open up In October 2018, we submitted our DCO application for the scheme the South West, unlocking economic and social benefi ts for the region. to the Planning Inspectorate. The Inspectorate has accepted our This forms part of the Government’s Road Investment Strategy for application and you are now able to engage in the public examination investment in roads across the country. process. We hope you take this opportunity to fi nd out about the scheme and its positive impacts, and we look forward to continuing to Our scheme includes a tunnel, around 2 miles (3.3 kilometres) long, work with you as we upgrade this vital route. to remove A303 traffi c from a large part of the Stonehenge landscape. In doing so, the tranquillity and natural setting of the Stones will be restored to benefi t visitors’ experiences long into the future. The scheme will also improve the quality of life for local communities by providing a bypass for Winterbourne Stoke and relieving nearby towns Derek Parody 2 and villages of rat running traffi c. Project Director, Highways England A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down 2. Increasing connectivity to the South West As part of the most direct route between the What the scheme will deliver 2. Economic growth: To enable growth in South East and the South West, the A303 at jobs and housing by providing a free- The scheme will unlock economic growth Stonehenge plays a big part in the daily lives fl owing and reliable connection between in the South West by transforming journey of tens of thousands of people. Because traffi c the South East and the South West reliability, increasing safety and improving fl ows along the single carriageway section connectivity with neighbouring regions, while 3. Cultural heritage: To help conserve and between Amesbury and Berwick Down are protecting and enhancing the environment. enhance the World Heritage Site and to twice what it was originally designed for, the make it easier to reach and explore route can be a daily struggle for many. To achieve this, we have four objectives for the scheme: 4. Environment and community: To improve The existing road passes just 165 metres from biodiversity and provide a positive legacy the Stonehenge monument and cuts the World 1. Transport: To create a high quality reliable for local communities Heritage Site (WHS) in two. Previous proposals route between the South East and the South over the past 30 years have not found an West that meets the future needs of traffi c acceptable or affordable way to tackle the problem. A303/A358 Corridor schemes M5 Warminster However, the Government has committed to Shepton Mallet A361 A303 Stonehenge A361 A303 Wylye to Stockton Wood A303 upgrading the A303 past Stonehenge as part A39 Bridgwater A350 A338 A37 of its Road Investment Strategy for improving A36 connectivity along the A303/A358 route corridor A303 Chicklade Bottom to Mere Salisbury to the South West, illustrated in the adjacent A303 Podimore Roundabout A303 Sparkford to Ilchester $7DXQWRQWR6RXWK¿HOGV Taunton A354 image. A303 A38 A358 Shaftesbury A338 A303 Cartgate Roundabout Motorway A350 The A303/A358 Corridor As a result of our detailed work over recent A Road Yeovil Current Planned years, we are confi dent that we have now Schemes Future Planned found the best solution for improving the A303 A303 $6RXWK3HWKHUWRQWR6RXWK¿HOGV A37 Schemes past Stonehenge. 3 Improving journeys, reuniting the Stonehenge landscape 3. Developing our application Thank you to everyone who took part in our Our DCO application scheme comprises a To describe the scheme, we have divided it statutory and supplementary consultations new dual, two-lane carriageway between into three sections, as shown in the image earlier in 2018. Your feedback has helped Amesbury and Berwick Down with the opposite. shape our fi nal application. following key features: Western section – Winterbourne Stoke This section describes the scheme that has A bypass to the north of Winterbourne bypass to Longbarrow junction been submitted, its development taking into Stoke with a viaduct over the River Till Central section – within the World consideration feedback from the statutory and valley Heritage Site supplementary consultations, and the resulting A new junction at Longbarrow with the Eastern section – Countess junction to just benefi ts. A360 to the west of the WHS, with the beyond the Solstice Park junction A303 passing under the junction Information on all the consultations on the Over the next pages, as well as describing the A section through the WHS with a twin- scheme and how we have taken on board scheme and its benefi ts, we summarise how it bore tunnel past Stonehenge around feedback can be found in the Consultation has developed since consultation, taking into 2 miles (3.3 kilometres) in length Report that has been submitted with the DCO consideration the feedback we have received. application. Section 4 of this booklet has more A new junction between the A303 and details of where you can view the Report and A345 at the existing Countess Roundabout other application documents. 4 A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down The scheme sections A360 Orcheston Rollestone Camp B3086 The Packway A345 Larkhill Rollestone Crossroads Durrington B390 Shrewton Bulford Camp Bulford A360 Stonehenge Visitor Centre River Avon B3083 Stonehenge Eastern A303 Parsonage Down tunnel entrance Countess junction National Nature Reserve River Till River Till viaduct Longbarrow A303 Solstice Park Winterbourne junction Stoke bypass Western A303 tunnel entrance Amesbury Yarnbury Castle Winterbourne Stoke A303 Western section Central section Eastern section Berwick Down A360 Berwick St James A345 KEY Proposed route Great Durnford Proposed tunnel B3083 River crossing Junction location A36 Stapleford Tunnel entrance Little Langford World Heritage Site 5 Improving journeys, reuniting the Stonehenge landscape The western section Winterbourne Stoke bypass to Longbarrow junction 6 A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down 7 Improving journeys, reuniting the Stonehenge landscape Western section The new dual carriageway road will leave the existing A303 around 800 The two carriageways of the new road will be carried on separate metres east of Yarnbury Castle on Berwick Down to pass to the north of bridge decks along the viaduct, with a gap between them to avoid the Winterbourne Stoke. River Till and valley fl oor under the viaduct being cast in shadow. Initially the road will run in a cutting just to the south of Parsonage Down From the Till, the road will continue via a series of embankments and National Nature Reserve. At the south-eastern end of the Reserve a cuttings towards a new junction with the A360, with a second green green bridge (no.1) will be constructed. bridge (no. 2) provided east of Winterbourne Stoke. Leaving Parsonage Down, the road will emerge from a cutting to run A new junction with the A360 will be built approximately 600 metres on an embankment towards the B3083, before crossing the Till Valley west of the existing Longbarrow roundabout. The junction will comprise on a multi-span viaduct approximately 200 metres long, as shown in the slip road connections into two roundabouts linked by a further green image below. bridge (no.3) over the new A303. 8 Proposed viaduct over the River Till with environmental barrier A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Example of a green bridge Western approach to Longbarrow junction 9 Improving journeys, reuniting the Stonehenge landscape Developments since consultation River Till Viaduct – During consultation we asked people to share their views on the type of parapet the viaduct should have. One option was to have a normal ‘open’ parapet which would