Stonehenge road tunnel
| Location | Wiltshire, England |
|---|---|
| Proposer | National Highways |
| Project website | https://highwaysengland.co.uk/a303-stonehenge-home/ |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Type | Road tunnel |
| Cost estimate | £1.7 billion |
| Start date | Proposed (not started) |
| Completion date | Cancelled in 2024 |
| Stakeholders | UK Government; National Highways |
The Stonehenge road tunnel was a proposed tunnel in Wiltshire, England, intended to enclose a section of the A303 beneath part of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. Various proposals for a tunnel, aiming to remove road traffic from view of the stones, were made from the mid-1990s and remained controversial throughout their development. UNESCO repeatedly raised concerns that the World Heritage Site could be at risk due to the earthworks associated with a tunnel project.
A major proposal developed from 2013 aimed to improve the landscape around the monument while reducing congestion and improving safety on the A303, and formed part of wider changes to the site including relocation of the visitors' centre. The scheme was approved in principle in 2017 and received planning permission in 2020, with an updated consent granted again in 2023. With costs estimated at up to £1.7 billion, the project was cancelled in 2024 following rising costs and a review of public spending. In 2026, the project's Development Consent Order (DCO) was formally revoked, bringing the scheme to an end.