In the UK, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced sweeping changes in the way that it will plan trunk road improvements leading to fears that the plans for the A303 Stonehenge tunnel (T&TI, March 2004, p6) and the A3 Hindhead tunnel (T&TI,December 2003, p6) will be scrapped.
The ancient megaliths at Stonehenge are classed as a world heritage site, yet in early December last year, the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced that the trunk road plans, which are pending the outcome of a public enquiry, are to be reclassified as a scheme of regional importance subject to local priorities for funding. During the inquiry, advocates had proposed tunnels ranging from 2.1km to 4.5km. Now, even if the inquiry recommends the scheme, the Stonehenge tunnel may never go ahead due to subsequent local transport board wrangles
The twin 1.9km long A3 Hindhead tunnels had been scheduled to start later this year, their status has now been changed to “Schemes to be progressed for future construction”. This may give the project more certainty than Stonehenge, as it means it can be progressed through statutory processes and design work up to the construction phase when further funding reviews will be carried out. Currently such a designation indicates a scheme will not be progressed before 2008.
Balfour Beatty has a connection to both schemes under an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract. A source told T&TI that the contractor was “a bit stunned” when the announcement was made. It seems that at best the Hindhead scheme has been put back three years. In an internal Highways Agency document obtained by T&TI, it states that there is no intention for ECI contracts to be terminated, but that discussions would be ongoing with suppliers to discuss slippage. It is categorically stated that existing contracts will not be re-negotiated.
