What is happening now?
The permissions required to proceed with the Stonehenge project are now all in place and we look forward to starting work on site in July 2012.
How much is the project and how is it currently funded?
The project cost is £27m.
There is an alternative funding strategy in place after the Government withdrew its funding which has successfully raised money from a mix of non-public sources. This comprises a combination of grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the use of English Heritage trading surplus and historical reserves, private fundraising including major trusts and foundations, and asset disposals.
When will the project be completed?
The project will be delivered in two phases. We hope to start work in June 2012 with the aim to open the new visitor centre in October 2013 and to complete the full environmental improvements the following summer.
What is the timetable for closing the A344?
Highways Agency works at Longbarrow Crossroads will begin in September 2012. When this is complete, the A344 will be closed in April 2013, with the opening of the Visitor Centre in October 2013. Landscape work at the existing facilties and near the monument will be completed in summer 2014.
Will visitors to Stonehenge be affected in 2012?
Not at all. Stonehenge will be able to welcome visitors during Olympics 2012 as normal at the current facilities.
Why do you need to close the A344 for the project? What benefits will it bring?
The closure of the A344 is essential for the long term management of the World Heritage Site and for the implementation of the Project.
It will drastically reduce motorised traffic within the World Heritage Suite, especially those running close to the monument. The setting of Stonehenge and other monuments will be greatly improved. Importantly, the monument will be reunited with The Avenue - its ancient processional approach. The original commitment to remove the A344 made by the UK Government to UNESCO when Stonehenge was inscribed as a World Heritage Site will be fulfilled.
The experience of the 1 million visitors to Stonehenge every year and of those who cycle and walk in the landscape will be vastly enhanced. Visitors, walkers and cyclists will be able to take in the tranquillity and beauty of the ancient landscape without interference of traffic and noise.
Are you removing any existing rights of way/footpaths or cycle routes?
The section of the A344 between Stonehenge Bottom and Byway 12 will be closed up, grassed over and will become a permissive route for pedestrians and cyclists.
Byways 11 and 12 are not affected by the road orders.
Can cyclists turn right from the A303 (Stonehenge Bottom) into the A344 in the future and continue their journey on the old route?
Yes. A permissive route for pedestrians and cyclists would be created on the line of the stopped up road.
Closing the A344 will result in more traffic remaining on to the A303 - how will it cope?
Improvements will be made to the existing road junctions of the A303/A360 (Longbarrow Roundabout) and the A360/A344/B3086 (Airman's Corner) to accommodate the re-routed traffic. The improvement at Longbarrow in particular will ensure the traffic will be able to negotiate the junction without any delays increasing significantly, beyond those that would be experienced in any event with the A344 remaining open. This will limit any further tendency for traffic to rat-run along local roads, beyond that which is happening anyway when drivers seek to avoid congested conditions on the A303.
Will the closure cause "rat-running" in back roads in nearby villages?
Our studies indicate that, some diversion to The Packway through Larkhill is expected with the A344 closure but we do not anticipate that it would lead to a significant increase in vehicles using alternative routes.
Will the A344 be closed on its own?
No. The A344 will not be closed in isolation - the works to Longbarrow Roundabout and Airman's Corner must be carried out first.
How many cars/coaches will the new site be able accommodate compared to the previous facility?
We plan to provide 500 car parking spaces (360 on all-weather surfaced areas and 140 on an "overflow" grass field) and 30 coach parking spaces.
The current facility has space for about 8 coaches and 130 cars, with around 300 more cars on adjoining fields.
How visible is coach parking?
Coach parking will be screened by a row of existing beech trees to which we will add more. They will be planted as densely as the existing row of beech trees in order to provide screening both in winter and summer.
How will the switchover of the visitor operations be handled?
In order to minimise disruption to visitors, operations will be switched to the new
visitor centre overnight. This means that removal of the existing facilities
and the crucial re-landscaping and environmental work thereafter will take place
over a six- month period after the switchover. This will not affect the visitor
experience adversely during this period and every effort will be made to keep
disturbance and visual intrusion to a minimum.
Will there be shelter and toilet facilities near the Stones in future?
The transit system will have a vehicle parked near the Stones at all times and this will provide somewhere to sit and shelter. A very small hub will be kept near the stones to provide emergency toilets.
