The decision was made to end deliberations over the scheme, which was proposed to take the A303 underground for 2.1km as it passed the World Heritage Site, following several years of enquiry and the forecast of spiralling costs.
English Heritage have expressed regret at the long awaited decision, which was intended to improve the congested roads in the vicinity as well as the landscape.
“To our huge disappointment, it has concluded that the allocation of more than £500 million for the implementation of the proposed 2.1km bored tunnel scheme cannot be justified,” said a statement from English Heritage about the final decision.
The decision marks the end of the project championed by the organisation and the DCMS over the last eight years.
“However, it is encouraging that the Government’s statement today recognises that improving the setting of the stones and the visitor facilities is still very much a priority,” continued the statement. “English Heritage will work closely with all interested parties to look into alternative ways to achieve this.”
The National Trust, which owns and manages the land around Stonehenge where the tunnel would have been bored, previously argued against a 'second-rate' solution being implemented at the site. The Trust said in June 2006 that a tunnel longer than 2.1km was necessary, and if it was too expensive then action should be postponed until the ideal long-term solution could be achieved.
