Skip to main content

Stonehenge tunnel controversy exacerbated by recent incident

The controversy surrounding the driving of a new road tunnel close to the UK’s Stonehenge monument has deepened following a recent incident. A 3m diameter hole was allegedly drilled through an important archeological find, a platform constructed of flint and animal bone, located close to the site Stonehenge. The platform is thought to have been erected some 6,000 years ago, making it older than Stonehenge itself, and preserves hoof prints made by aurochs, giant wild cattle that are now long extinct.
December 7, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

The controversy surrounding the driving of a new road tunnel close to the UK’s Stonehenge monument has deepened following a recent incident. A 3m diameter hole was allegedly drilled through an important archeological find, a platform constructed of flint and animal bone, located close to the site Stonehenge. The platform is thought to have been erected some 6,000 years ago, making it older than Stonehenge itself, and preserves hoof prints made by aurochs, giant wild cattle that are now long extinct.

The construction of the tunnel is a necessary project as the busy A303 route features just a single lane in either direction as it passes Stonehenge and the road is no longer fit for purpose. Traffic congestion are delays are frequent along this particular stretch of the A303 while there are serious concerns over safety. One of the biggest controversies surrounding the project however is that many believe the preferred route for the tunnel to be too short, risking damage to the historical site. There are also concerns that driving the new tunnel will affect the high water table in the area, potentially damaging other features of archeological importance.

Stonehenge is a 1384 Unesco world heritage site due to its historic importance.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Tricky mountain road rebuild job in Phoenix AZ
    June 16, 2021
    North Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona is one of the metropolitan area’s most recognisable landmarks and busiest hiking destinations.
  • Turkey’s new Marmara Highway project
    June 8, 2017
    By the end of 2018, a shiny new strip of asphalt will skirt around Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, providing a new transport connection.
  • Joy riding
    August 15, 2019
    Our Skidmarks page is highly rated by readers. Your input could help make this page even more entertaining. If you come across any amusing road-related stories or pictures email me at [email protected] JOY RIDING A couple in the US recently took advantage of the self-driving features of a Tesla car for reasons other than transportation. They ignored the suggestions from Tesla to remain alert even when the vehicle was using its self-drive mode and instead engaged in sexual acts, which they recorded on vid
  • Washington DC’s historic bridge replacement project
    June 11, 2019
    The project to replace a historic bridge in US capital Washington DC is providing major challenges for its builders - Mike Woof writes