Although, the government wants to dual the whole of the A303 route down to the south-west, there is now no way they are going to spend the £470m which is now being quoted for the tunnel. They even say this themselves on the Highways Agency website that this may not even be the final figure, & what with potential protests and bad publicity then the costs would be higher still. I think the tunnel as it now stands is a 'dead-duck'.

I think people are right in saying money earmarked for this project could now well go to the Olympics.

As for the A303, when the governments view is that a developed 303 will save time and increase business opertunies in the south-west. The 303 being some some 30 miles shorter than the M4 / M5 alternative. However not at any cost. The government do not want any more major road protests on their hands and they know they would get one at Stonehenge, that the national, but the international media would be interested in.

The feasibility of building the tunnel now looks very problematic and thoughts of Bath Spa and the Dome must have gone thru their minds. Back to the A303. It was estimated by one objector at the recent public inquiry that developing the whole A303 into dual carriageway would take over thirty years. Also the issue of the Blackdown Hills and the government deciding on the A358 option via Taunton knocks the thirty mile saving down to under twenty from London to Devon. Perhaps further peicemeal development will go ahead. I am sure they will look into southern bypass options again running via the A36 / A360 north of Salisbury. But all that is not without its own problems. So as for the A303 past Stonehenge goes - well probably nothing will happen for a long time.

Hence may arguement about the A344 being closed as a separate issue.

Jim