Hindhead Tunnel

[pompeyfaith]

For anyone traveling on the A3 to either Portsmouth or London will be pleased to hear that the new 1.2 mile tunnel at Hindhead is finally due to open on the 27th July 2011 ahead of time and on budget.

This has taken 4.5 years and was the last remaining weak spot on the A3 which caused delays of 45/60 minutes.

I will be making a special trip though this tunnel next Wednesday purely because it is something I have been following closely and indeed caused me many many delays in my trucking days.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/3832.aspx

Regards

[EXC]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

Oh bugger I'm driving down to Emsworth on Sunday so I'll miss it by 3 days.

I've been doing that trip about 6 times a year for about 20 years and have been following it's progress. Apparently it's the longest tunnel in mainland UK.

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

Exc,

Indeed it is the longest in the UK, so is already in the record book lol there will be a lot of happy people when that opens even the residents of hindhead cannot wait for the peace and tranquility it will bring them.

I did that route every day for 8 yrs trucking to and throw between portsmouth and walton on thames.

[semiret]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

Great news!!!!!
Currently travelling from Waterlooville to Essex weekly to see dear old mum in the care home. Journey currently takes about 2 hours so hope that this will save at least 10 mins. Only bug bear is now the Dartford crossing holdup and toll!

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

Great news indeed not only for the travelling but also the beautiful surry hills and devils punch bowl that was being harmed by the over use of the soon to be old A3.

[DidsySith]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

The only problem I forsee after the tunnel opening is the build-up of traffic entering into Guildford off the A3 as currently most of it is being bottlenecked at Hindhead.I have been fortunate enough be able to travel through the tunnel as part of the ongoing works.There is a great blog a resident of Hindhead set up from the start , I will try and find it.
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
http://a3tunnel.blogspot.com/ Thats the one!

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

Yes I have already read that.

Yes it does slow down southbound at the guildford exit and made worse by cars lane changing all the time and that slip road is quite long and not used as a filter by the guildford traffic joining the A3 if they used all of that slip road and not try to join at the earliest oppotunity that would help

Altering the lane markings may also help

Regards

[DidsySith]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

Yes I have already read that.

Yes it does slow down southbound at the guildford exit and made worse by cars lane changing all the time and that slip road is quite long and not used as a filter by the guildford traffic joining the A3 if they used all of that slip road and not try to join at the earliest oppotunity that would help

Altering the lane markings may also help

Regards

Yes , fully agree. Just been going through the slideshows and photos of the site and recognised myself in quite a few of them. Lol

[semiret]

Re: Hindhead Tunnel

Just read that the new tunnel will be open Southbound only next Wednesday, and it is estimated that the Northbound carriageway will be open on Friday.