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.

Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Tunnel construction in Italy using breakers
    August 10, 2018
    Hydraulic breakers from Indeco have helped with the excavation of a road tunnel in Italy. The HP 7000 and HP 5000 units from Indeco were used for excavation of a stretch of tunnel where blasting could not be used due to the proximity of live traffic. The Greppoli Tunnel is located between Grosseto and Siena in the section of road near Civitella Paganico on the SGC E 78. The route connects the Tyrrhenia coast with the Adriatic and is a major highway, connecting Grosseto to Fano. The 100m-long Greppoli Tunne
    Read More
  • Future road safety progress may be slow
    March 9, 2018
    Future progress on road safety could be slower than hoped, according to the European Transport Safety Commission (ETSC). It warns that the high profile development of autonomous vehicles could restrain moves to improve road safety around the world. With road deaths killing up to 1.25 million people/year, lowering the casualty rate is seen as a priority. But a much sharper awareness of how to reduce the number of deaths and injuries is required.
    Read More
  • Crash cushion design
    February 13, 2012
    There are key differences in crash cushion design and quality for the United States and European markets. Developments in barrier technologies have followed the varying demands of specific markets, resulting in manufacturers offering different solutions for US and European needs.
    Read More
  • The badger excuse
    June 27, 2014
    A driver in the UK had a rather unusual explanation following a crash involving his vehicle. He had been transporting a load of dead badgers that had been killed following a somewhat controversial cull, a move intended to halt the spread of disease amongst cattle. The man’s excuse was that the police radio he had been given, so as to help him avoid any animal rights protestors, had fallen from his grasp and under the brake pedal.
    Read More

Highlighted Content