Howdy one and all
I got sent this today from a Haslemere resident who was flying back to Heathrow from toulouse earlier today. He realised they were flying up the A3 and grab his phoen and took this photo. You can clearly see both ends of the tunnel and how it has fitted into the landscape.
Paul thank you so much for not only thinking of taking the photo but also for taking the time to send it in - very very much appreciated!
This has to be my favourite photo so far!
keep on diggin.............
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73 comments:
Excellent picture!!
I can't see how they can open both lanes at once - surely they will have to open the southbound lane first, so they can connect up the northbound lane at the northern end with the existing road?
What an amazing photo. I know it sounds stupid but could not get by bearings around how the tunnel went underneath the existing a3. Voilla as they say in toulouse.
Thats brilliant, good work!
The driver of the 05:50 National Express Service 030 told me this morning that the Southbound carriageway is due to open this afternoon (7th July) and the Northbound carriageway on Saturday.
Has anyone else heard of this?
Crickey the rumour mill is full swing - it's like transfer deadline day!
I have heard a rumour that they are having to install some new software which is not bieng done until friday so wont be open until next week.
If any one knows anymore or spots anything I think we should let gummy know!
I saw them taking doen the temporary signs on the south side of the southbound carriageway at 0700hrs this morning, and thought to myself, "they must be opening it today" So I think the last post it correct!! Ha!
07.10 South side of southbound carriageway - Not sure if they were taking the cones away or swapping the trafic from near to outside lane.
That photo is fantastic ! Do you have a full size jpeg of it?
No unfortunaley not - I had to do some playing around with before I could get it up there.
However if you click on the photo and then click on it again it should zoom in about 3x
Gummy
Thanks, the 3X is very good too. Amazing to see it from the air. Does to run straight from portal to portal or does it have a massive curve?
A plan of the tunnel is at
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/images/A3_scheme_map.gif
Great photo....
Has anyone been up there this evening? Any changes?
Thanks, Taxpayer. A good clear diagram.
Hey guys,
I've had word that all the work being carried out in the tunnel has now been completed and will be open very soon.
From a reliable source as well.
I'm just goign to take a drive up and have a look!
Paased by at 5.30 today going southbound. On scene were at least two fire engines just leaving and at the entrance more blue flashing lights. The contractor sign now just reads 'drive safely'
This is an amazing picture, amazing how the tunnel curves. You can't see how the ground drops away and rises up in this area. Been following this from the outset, love the blog, the passion behind it and just can't wait to drive through this engineering marvel.where did all the spoil go to?
Have just taken a drive from northern to southern end. Not open yet but loads of activity and flashing orange lights near hazel grove.
All the apoil was used to fill in the northern end valley and build up the embankments - none of it was wasted
I would be jolly pleased if it could be open for me tomorrow :-)
The voting section of the blog (left side) never seems to format properly. Does this happen to others or is it just me? I use the Chrome browser.
Due to go through Hindhead at 6.00pm ish on my commute from Rochester to Hayling. For the past 15years its been 'through Hindhead, i'm hoping tonight its under Hindhead!
Not at 6pm it wasn't
oh well looks like we have all got to be patient but i so want to drive through it hurry up please
My TomTom thinks the tunnel is already open and has wiped the old road from the map. it got most confused when i went on the old road!
thats good then! proper off roading! haha
Anyone been up there this morning?
I work for a local emergency service and it's looking like the 20th July according to a colleague who's in the know...
South portal still closed when I drove over Hazel Grove around noon. Only saw one or two highways vehicles at that time.
BTW, only another 1300 views and this Blog site will have had 100,000 Hits !
It may be a triumph of engineering - but a triumph of communication it isn't. The electronic sign in the compound has been telling us "days until road open"; by those messages it should have been open on Wednesday 6th. Is it beyond the wit of man to publish a date - particularly as they've failed to meet the one they have been advertising?
Don't buy that for one minute, in this nanny state when health and safety rules, if the tunnel wasn't safe noone would have allowed 7000 people to walk through it over 9 weeks ago now.....
I'm sure that the tunnel was safe to walk through. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's certified as safe to drive through.
Cherrygirl has a point, but can't she understand that - after the annoucement in mid June that the tunnel would be opened in the first week of July - we the public are owed an explanation of what has gone wrong and a revised and accurate opening date?
Thanks cherrygirl. So there you go everyone, get back in your boxes and stop being naughty and asking so many questions. Its not as if its your money thats paying for any of this is it- therefore it is none of your business.
Actually Ben your wrong, alot of this will be from Tax payers money.
Cherry Girl I assume you are working on the project?
I think you have missed the point that people have made on the blog. No one has an issue with it opening when it is safe to do so- of course everyone knows and accepts that. We all just want to know WHEN it will open.
Considering this is a major government infrastructure upgrade paid for by the taxpayer, I for one dont think that is unreasonable.
To come on here and say it will be open when your ready, and you need to understand the technology before you ask, is adding no value to this blog, and is quite frankly arrogant beyond belief.
The only error that has been made is a failure in expectation management - do not promise or communicate the availability of a service unless you know that all the outstanding work items can be completed in time.
In this case it would have been far better to have kept to the August 2011 date and then announce an earlier date on the day the tunnel opens.
As it stands at the moment the tunnel is being seen as being late and will always be remembered as being late even though they may have beaten the original date.
Lets keep it friendly eh David? No need to go down the insults route...
Cherrygirl - Thanks for the insight, its good to hear some news about stuff going on and that safety is being taken seriously. Would you be able to tell us whether a rough estimate has been set.. as suggested of the 20th and 24th by radio stations or is it a case of "as soon as its ready" ?
Chris
here here Chris
I did not do this blog for peopel to just trade insults at each other.
Everyone is perfectly entitled to their opinion of course, but lets keep it freindly.
I thank Cherrygirl for coming on here and giving us some of her information.
Please keep it nice and friendly folks!
I understand, from one of the security personnel working at the north entrance of the tunnel, that there are technical tests still being performed on the safety systems in the tunnel. Until these tests show consistent results, the tunnel cannot be opened. There are several mobile inspection platforms still at the north entrance which would give credence to this assertion.
He suggests that the tunnel could be open by the end of July...
This is as of 06:20 12/07/2011
How much notice will be given prior to opening hrs or days
I'm not questioning how important safety is but just think the way everything has been handled is just a mess, like why take down the average journey time signs weeks before opening, crazy.
There will have been reasons I'm sure... lets face it - it is in their interest to get the job done... not to please impatient people such as ourselves. Of course each time I drive to work I hope it will be open - but that isn't their concern... their concern is to get it open as quick as possible :)
Another q for cherry girl - a lot of talk about the speed limit and I didn't see a clear answer - is it 70 or 50?
This is total crap we are in the 2 week of July and still no news about what day it is being opened what a joke and as normal us the public just sit and wait come on HA give us a date
would be sensible to be lower than 70 to start just to get the traffic flowing through.
Also the HA dont have a god giver right - specially how some of the folks on here have been slating them!
I have just driven through hindhead 10 mins ago and see that the concrete blocks on the northbound carrigeway have been moved so htings should be happening soon!
How far north and south of the tunnel will there be automatic signs to indicate that the tunnel is closed and that one should choose a different route.
For southbound traffic I would suggest at the M25 A3 Exit, the top of the hill at Guildford so you can go on the A31 via the Hogs Back
For North bound at the A27 A3 junction west of Petersfield, at the B3006 roundabout on the way to Selborne and at the A325 exit to go off to Bordon
Still no official date (HA 13th July)
http://www.liphookonline.co.uk/news/hindhead-tunnel-opening-date/
Ok we all know it can't be opened until it has been all cleared and all the safety checks have been done but come on HA give us a clue when it will be open then everyone will stop going off about it lol
Amazing photo - should sell it to google earth.
With regards to "Tax Payer", I've noticed recently there is a sign up before the Golf Shop on Stag Hill going Southbound that I've not noticed before and hasn't ever displayed anything since. It's the same style as the ones down at the tunnel entrance.
I haven't been on the Northbound Carriageway on the Southern Side to see if there is one there. I reckon it'll be a sign for if the tunnel is closed they'll redirect to the A31.
On the distant signage - they will use the matrix displays on the M25 as well of course. (Problems as far afield as the A303 at Stonehenge are signposted round Gatwick on the motorway!) It's a pretty powerful system - and there are similar signs on other major roads (eg A3 near the Wisley M25 junction).
When they get the signs correct! They're often wrong, M6/M6 Toll being a prime candidate..
If you look at the Traffic England website map, you can see where all the matrix signs are and what they are currently showing...
www.trafficengland.co.uk
Just a little anorak observation!
It staggers me that so called proffessional people who are in control of this National Project i.e the government and there agency's do not take the time to read these comments on this blog, especially as they are responsible to the genral public who are there paymasters......Typical Civil Servants....NO ACCOUNTABILITY unless it is hitting there pensions.
However, all everybody wants is a simple answer or an ongoing update of answers of when will it be open.
I am an occassional user of the A3 and I get frustrated with the queues so I sympathize with regular drivers.
Cherrygirl no one is having ago we just want an answer of when they are going to open it half way through July and still no expect date I work on area 5 as Isu I travel from Portsmouth to leatherhead M25 j9 and I have spoke to Isu area 3 who deal with accident on the A3 and they was told the date should have been the 7th July for the southbound to be open but has been put back it would just be nice to have a straight answer
Hey Cheerygirl
Please can you email me on dave.work@hotmail.co.uk
I have something I want to run past you.
Cheers
Gummybear
Cherrygirl - I know you're not supposed to blab to the public, but can you let on what 'isu' is? It's great having an insider on the blog by the way! Ta!!
Cherrygirl you forgot the first to get abuse from public lol Or is that just on the M25
Thank you! Let's hope you don't have to attend any serious incidents in the tunnel too soon...
How long is it shut and how do it to lmao I love Isu lmao any jobs going instead of me going leatherhead cherrygirl give me a email on leedin69@gmail.com
Hey Cherrygirl,
Whats the best way tog et to Hindhead?
Also do you know the way to Dover and Folksetone please?
haha only messin,
Ok hot of the press southbound opens 27 th July northbound acouple of days later
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-14207128
Woohoo about time lmao
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