A360 closure caused by 'problems' with landowners and tunnel challenge

Both lanes of the A360 from Longbarrow Roundabout to the Avenue are set to close for four months from April while SSE digs up the road to install a new power supply and cables.

These cables will feed into the Stonehenge tunnel, on the A303, to permanently power the lighting and other electrical needs. 

Work will be ongoing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When outraged residents quizzed National Highways' representatives Allen Harris and Ken Marshall at South Wiltshire Area Board on Wednesday, February 28, they were told there had been problems engaging with the landowners of fields adjacent to the road.

Read out live coverage of the meeting: Wiltshire Area Board discusses A360 road closure

Using the fields could avoid an entire road closure but this is not going to be possible, Mr Marshall confirmed.

An ongoing legal challenge against the High Court's decision to dismiss a judicial review into the Stonehenge tunnel has affected the planning behind the A360 closure.

Mr Marshall, A303 workstream lead, said: "We are dependent on the good will of the landowners and they will want to see the legal situation with the scheme and if it is going ahead before they are prepared to agree.

"We can't agree a route until we resolve the legal issues. Because of the surveys we will have to do, it leaves us in a position where, to get this done in a timely manner, we are looking at running the cables up the road."

Longbarrow Roundabout. (Image: National Highways)

Despite concerns about the ongoing appeal which could delay or even cancel the £1.7bn Stonehenge tunnel project, Mr Marshall said: "The plan is still, despite the fact there may be an appeal, that SSE will start work in April.

"They have a long list of work to do and there is a long demand. If they delay their start there is a significant impact on works later on."

Read more: ​National Highways planning to close part of A360 for Stonehenge tunnel

Wiltshire Councillor Pauline Church, for Wilton, requested advance closure warnings and raised concern about a bridge on the A36 which is hit frequently.

Mr Harris said National Highways is aware of the possibility of "rat running" but it is waiting to find out how traffic reacts before making further changes to diversion routes and road weight limits.

"This isn't a four month job and it's over. We are going to be in this area for a very long time and we are going to be bumping heads for a long time unless we listen to you," Mr Marshall said.