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Roads Minister hails A3 progress
02 August 2010
Roads Minister Mike Penning saw progress on the A3 Hindhead bypass project this week when he was driven through the whole length of the new 1.2 mile tunnel.
The Minster heard that the multi-million pound project to build the UK's longest road tunnel under land will reach a major milestone next month when a 1.5 mile section of the approach road to the south of Hindhead is due to open to traffic in time for the August bank holiday. The tunnel itself is expected to open in July 2011.
The completed scheme will improve journey times between London and Portsmouth traffic, reduce the notorious bottleneck in Hindhead village and restore peace and tranquillity to a highly valued part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by diverting the A3 away from the Devil's Punchbowl and returning the internally protected site to its natural tranquillity.
The new road will also remove the only section of single carriageway on the A3 between London and Portsmouth and the only set of traffic lights on the A3 outside London. The Highway's Agency has been working since 2007 on the four mile Hindhead bypass road project, of which the 1.2 mile Hindhead tunnel is part.
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