Highway tunnel under Stonehenge divides England

A controversial plan to build a 1.8 km four-lane tunnel under Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, has sparked fierce debate in England. The proposal aims to ease traffic congestion on the A303, a major two-lane highway linking Basingstoke (Hampshire) to Honiton (Devon), which passes directly by the Neolithic monument. The tunnel, first proposed in 2014 in response to citizen complaints about tourist traffic, is championed by Highways England, which argues it will improve travel conditions. However, archaeologists and scholars, including David Jacques of the University of Buckingham, warn that the project could irreversibly damage the ancient landscape, not just the standing stones. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has also expressed concerns, stating the tunnel would negatively impact the site, though its opinion lacks legal force. A previous proposal was rejected in February due to its proximity to Blick Mead, a Mesolithic archaeological site near Stonehenge. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2021 and conclude in 2025, but a final decision remains pending.