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A3 Tunnel Delay - Eneida Nelson (18th Dec 2004 - 13:08:20) Reading between the lines it sounds very much as if this scheme is now dead in the water - at least for years and years. Does anyone agree. Personally I think it's a great shame!

Re: A3 Tunnel Delay - Chris (20th Dec 2004 - 20:26:46) I hope not, especially with what has been spent so far in terms of feasibility studies etc. I also hope that there will be enough commuter pressure to keep it alive. I also hope that the alternative "re-routing" proposals are not taken more seriously in the light of the delay.

Re: A3 Tunnel Delay - Mark Boosey (21st Dec 2004 - 16:50:33) I haven't followed this story very well but why can't the council just compulsory purchase the shops around the traffic lights, bulldoze them and wack a second lane from the little chef, right through there and around the devil’s punchbowl? Looking at the area, the shops are the only thing getting in the way of more lanes at the moment (and lets face it – bar the stone masons and the BMW garage it looks like all the traders are just hanging in there hoping for a payoff anyway). It may not be a perfect solution as some land would have to be bought and the pavements moved but it would be quicker and certainly cost less than the millions it is going to cost to build and maintain a tunnel.

Re: A3 Tunnel Delay - Les (22nd Dec 2004 - 14:15:45) Good question mark, been wondering that myself each time I get stuck at the lights at Hindhead. All the time and money wasted debating these Tunnel schemes- we could have a nice dual carrageway in place by now. Hindhead is a dump!

Re: A3 Tunnel Delay - Tim Camilleri (5th Jan 2005 - 19:58:15) There doesn't seem to be much current information on the web about the progress of the tunnel inquiry so I rang the Highways Agency. They told me that the inquiry is being run by Persona Associates. Their web site was last updates on 15th December 2004 and can be found here - http://www.personaassociates.co.uk/A3_Hindhead/index.htm The Highways Agency say that they are aware that their own site is woefully out of date - it states that a public inquiry is planned for September 07 2004 !! They plan to update it soon.

Re: A3 Tunnel Delay - Finchie (6th Jan 2005 - 12:48:09) This stuff below is mildly interesting. My take is that it does make sense that no positive decision could be made until the Public Enquiry is completed. The optimist in me says that there is a route to continue once the Public Enquiry is completed. Also, surely they can't just put the £12.3 million of investment since 1999 on hold for 3 years and then start the process again. The pessimist looks at "subject to available funds" since digging a big hole must be pretty expensive ! Anyone know how much it will cost ? Cheers, Finchie ---------> The detail A search on Parliamentary questions produced ... http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmagenda.htm Go to advanced search at the top. These are the written questions submitted by Virginia Bottomley: 21 Dec 2004 : Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the start date is for work on the A3 improvement at Hindhead. Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency's Press Release 079/04 classifies the A3 Hindhead scheme as a Regional Scheme to be progressed for future construction (beyond March 2008). The main works are programmed to start in the financial year 2008–09 but it would be the Highways Agency's intention to make a start on advance works in 2007–08 subject to the availability of funds. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit the A3 at Hindhead to meet local residents and travellers to hear their concerns. Mr. Jamieson: It would not be appropriate for me to visit because the Public Inquiry is still in progress and I will be involved in the decision making process. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last had discussions with the Highways Agency about the A3 at Hindhead. Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State recently considered the relative priority of the A3 Hindhead improvement alongside other national and local transport schemes in the South East region. The conclusions from these discussions were set out in the press notice issued on 1 December, which confirmed the progression of the scheme subject to the outcome of the current public inquiry. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he anticipates (a) receiving and (b) making a decision on the Public Inquiry report on the A3 at Hindhead. Mr. Jamieson: The Public Inquiry has recently been adjourned to 15 February 2005 although it is hoped that it can be concluded soon after it reconvenes. It is hoped that the Inspector's Report will be received in Spring/Summer 2005 with a joint decision of the First Secretary of State, the Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs later in 2005. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public expenditure has been (a) made in the past 10 years and (b) planned for the next three years for the A3 Hindhead Tunnel scheme. Mr. Jamieson: No work was undertaken on the scheme between 1994 and 1999. From 1999 to date the cost is approximately £12.3 million. £16.5 million is forecast to be spent in the next three years to get the scheme ready to commence main works in 2008–09. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the traffic volumes on the A3 at Hindhead were in (a) 1984 and (b) the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will estimate volumes in 10 years time. Mr. Jamieson: The forecast traffic flows for the A3 Punchbowl Bend at Hindhead, without the tunnel scheme in place, nearest to the periods requested are: (a) 12800 AADT (1983 estimated flow) (b) 27000 AADT (2002) (c) There are no forecasts calculated for 10 years time. However, forecasts for the A3 without the tunnel scheme in 2009 and 2024 are 31000 AADT and 38000 AADT respectively

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