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Since the four-mile bypass opened to traffic last summer, the project team at the Highways Agency has been busy making the old road more suitable for the traffic using it. Now called the A333, the road aims to restore Hindhead’s village ethos, with more space for pedestrians and recreational users. A system of mini roundabouts has replaced the notorious bottleneck at the old Hindhead lights, a traffic blight for decades.
Having removed traffic restrictions from the road at the end of January, construction teams have now completed the last remaining roadworks. "Restoring tranquillity to Hindhead village is a big part of the new tunnel’s legacy,” said Paul Arnold, Highways Agency senior project manager who has been awarded an MBE.
"Local people have played such an important part throughout the successful delivery of this major improvement project. I’m delighted that we are now able to hand them a road that will help to realise Hindhead’s potential – both as a place to live and work, and as the gateway to some of the most stunning natural scenery in southern England at the Devil’s Punch Bowl.”
Haslemere Town Councillor Melanie Odell, who led organization of last year’s community day at the tunnel as the then Mayor of Haslemere, said: "The removal of the traffic lights has really helped to join up communities around Hindhead. This is an exciting time for Hindhead, and I think that the village can look to the future with anticipation.”
Last Friday saw the final meeting of Hindhead Together, the partnership tasked with making the most of the environmental and economic benefits of the scheme for the local community. Founding leader of the group, and current chairman of Natural England Poul Christensen said: "The amazing success of this project is due to everyone coming together, to people here working together.
"A lot of people are cynical about localism but I think it is important to build things from the bottom. Hindhead Together is a good early example of localism in action and should be a blueprint for this kind of development right around the country."
The new £371 million Hindhead bypass, including the UK’s longest underland road tunnel, provides a superb new gateway to Hampshire, Sussex and the south coast, shortening and facilitating the journey time.
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Real-time traffic information at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic
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