Hindhead tunnel in UK to be opened by 2011

Published: 03-Sep-2010

Construction at Hindhead tunnel, one of UK’s longest underground tunnels, has been completed and the tunnel is set to be opened to traffic in 2011.

The £371 million ($475 million) tunnel is being constructed on the London to Portsmouth route. However prior to opening for traffic, people would be able to walk the 1.2 miles of the Hindhead tunnel, which is also known as A3 tunnel, on an open day on 14 May 2011.

Earlier, organisers had considered including cyclists and runners in the tunnel on the opening day, but the event has been restricted to walkers because of the large numbers of people expected.

Haslemere Town Mayor, Melanie Odell, chairwoman of the Hindhead Together sub-committee was reported stating that the open day has been planned with the Highways Agency, Balfour Beatty and Surrey Police.

Upon opening to traffic, the dual carriageway tunnel is expected to keep 30,000 vehicles a day from the heathland site.

Advance works at the site began in January 2007, and main construction works, including the tunnelling, started in 2008.

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