A303 Stonehenge main works procurements continue

Highways England has confirmed that it is continuing the main works construction procurement process for delivery contracts for the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel scheme.

This decision comes despite a High Court ruling quashing the Development Consent Order for the £1.7bn project, which aims to create a new 12.8km dual carriageway, with a 3.2km tunnel to remove congestion from around Stonehenge, a World Heritage Site.

In a statement issued on the project’s website, Highways England also highlights that "the High Court ruling was not made about the merits of the scheme itself, but concerned points of law in the way in which the decision was made to grant permission".

The re-determination of the Development Consent Order is now a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport,

Three Joint Venture bids have been submitted for the tunnel and main works contract, with the preferred bidder expected to be announced in early 2022.

The company is also continuing to procure a delivery assurance partner to support in managing the delivery of the A303 Stonehenge main works contract.

It is expected that the £60M contract will be awarded in late 2021.

Highways England project manager for the A303 Stonehenge scheme David Bullock said:

“We have to wait while the Department for Transport considers its options, and in the meantime we are continuing with the process to appoint a contractor for the main works phase of the scheme.

We have now paused our plans to carry out early, preparatory work, but the procurement process is very much live, to ensure we maintain programme timescales as best as possible.

“We still believe our project is the best solution to the ongoing issues along the A303 past Stonehenge; it has been developed after a long and extensive collaboration with our key stakeholders, and we are still very much motivated to leave a legacy beyond the road – for Stonehenge, the World Heritage Site, our local communities and future generations.”

Archaeological fieldwork and preliminary works had been scheduled to start later this summer.

In addition, a temporary, three-month closure of the A360 to enable utilities work that was earmarked to start in September has also been postponed.

Ongoing ecological and other non-invasive surveys will, however, continue.

Photo by Robert Anderson on Unsplash