Calls grow for urgent A303 safety improvements near Stonehenge

Fresh concerns have been raised over road safety on the A303 near Stonehenge, with local campaigners warning that serious collisions and fatalities could continue unless improvements are made to the notorious bottleneck.

The warning comes two years after the government cancelled the proposed £2 billion Stonehenge tunnel scheme, which would have placed part of the road underground in an attempt to reduce congestion and improve safety.

Retired firefighter Paul Jaycock, who served at Amesbury Fire Station, said he attended dozens of serious crashes on the route during his career and had long believed the tunnel would eventually help reduce the number of fatal accidents.

Wiltshire Police figures show that between 2015 and 2025, there were 105 injury collisions on the A303 near Stonehenge, including 22 serious or fatal crashes.

The stretch of road narrows to a single carriageway past Stonehenge, where traffic often slows significantly. Local residents say some drivers become distracted by the famous prehistoric monument, with reports of motorists slowing down suddenly or attempting to take photographs while driving.

According to National Highways, around 26,000 vehicles use this section of the A303 each day, with traffic levels rising to more than 30,000 vehicles during August.

Following the cancellation of the tunnel project, Wiltshire councillors have urged the government to provide a clear alternative plan for improving both safety and congestion on the route. Suggestions discussed at a recent community meeting in Amesbury included landscaping measures to reduce drivers’ views of Stonehenge from the carriageway, although many residents continue to support full dualling of the road.

Local leaders say the issue affects not only tourists travelling through the area, but also residents, emergency services and businesses across Amesbury, Durrington and the wider Salisbury area.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said the government is exploring lower-cost options to improve safety on the A303 and that further evidence gathering on potential upgrades is expected to begin later this year.

English Heritage also acknowledged that the current road arrangement is unsatisfactory for motorists, the local community and those responsible for protecting the Stonehenge landscape, and said it remains willing to engage in future discussions about possible solutions.