Well good afternoon everyone
Well I finally got the official confirmation from the Highways Agency today that the southbound tunnel is going to open next wednesday 27th and the northbound tunnel will open a few days later.
Now i have a problem. I am on holiday from this sunday so am not going to be about for the opening, yes I am totally gutted!!, so I am going to need as many of you a possible out and about taking lots of photo's for me please.
I will upload more details of the HA press release later this evening.
Keep on diggin.................
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50 comments:
Yippee Kay Aye. At last a date!
Talk about lastminute.com - did they give a time ;-)
It's on Twitter so must be true -
Hooray!! http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=420487
http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=420487 for the official press release.
Yippee! That is fantastic news. Can't wait to drive through it.
Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Working in London next Wednesday so I'm going to enjoy the trip back to Portsmouth for a change, and I'm going to be one of the first through it!!!!!!
You must be really p***ed off Dave - all this fantastic work on the blog and then they open the tunnel whilst you're away. Why didn't they consult you?
I'm sure there will be a good few people out with cameras on the day (both days). Will you be able to see photos submitted here whilst you're away?
Thats the news we've all been waiting for. From honest commuters, to locals and to us tunnel runners alike. Thanks for the great updates you've been doing and glad we now know a date. I feel bad you're going to miss it though.
Can somebody tell me what a few days later is for the southbound tunnel? I am driving up north on Friday for a holiday, so I really want to know.
thanks
The CEO previously stated that the tunnel would open on the 6th July 2011 don't get to excited just yet!!!
is anyone else worried they might actually ejaculate just before entering this particular hole?
I think i already have just thinking about it tantric tunnel!!!!
Wayhey!! Well done and at last!!
Alignment of the carriageways is why the Northbound bore will open two days after the Southbound (at the moment the Southbound cuts across the Northbound carriageway on the approach to the Punchbowl). A seriously large thanks for keeping this blod running and a huge thanks to the workers on the tunnel who have made all this possible.
Personally, it's 6 years of A3 Hindhead traffic hurt soon to be over. I feel there will be tears of joy when the tunnel evenutally opens.
Excellent - driving to Pompey from London on the 30th so will be able to use it!
Opening date announced for A3 Hindhead Tunnel
HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 19 July 2011
The Hindhead Tunnel will open to traffic on Wednesday 27 July, the Highways Agency announced today.
Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond will open the tunnel, which is the longest of its type in the UK and is part of a four mile bypass for Hindhead village in Surrey.
The £371m road scheme will eliminate a notorious congestion hotspot at the Hindhead crossroads and will restore peace and tranquillity to the Devil's Punchbowl - an internationally prized area of countryside - and for people living in and around Hindhead.
Southbound traffic will be the first to use the tunnel, with northbound traffic being introduced to the new road a few days later. The first traffic will be escorted through the tunnel in convoy, and the old road will remain in use in the meantime.
Herman said...
"Can somebody tell me what a few days later is for the southbound tunnel?"
Read it again Herman, its the North bound tunnel which will open a few days later.... it's so they can finish off the north bound part of the A3 when you exit the tunnel.. where currently south bound traffic approaching the tunnel cross's over the A3 to go on the old road...
Hope that's clear
Do you think they will still reduce the southbound traffic to one lane exactly as they currently do, but then remove the restriction as you get onto the new road (and have two lanes open leading into the tunnel and onwards) until the north is open?
Surely they will need to throttle the traffic and provide some safety and protection to the workmen who will be getting the northbound ready?
For me, the pain of at least 24 years' dealing with Hindhead will finally be eased at long last!
Fantastic news. As a newbie to the area I am unnaturally overexcited by this. After weeks of finding the best alternative routes - via rat runs and country roads - I will at last be able to make my way home in peace. Simplicity is best after all.
Happy days...thanks for all the good blog work gummybear...drum roll for the 27th.
I think they should allow Gummy to go through seeing as how it has been him that has publicised the tunnel the most, not some government minister who sits in his office on his backside all day and then pops up and takes all the credit!
Gummy for prime minister I say!!!
I think I'll wait until it's open in both directions before taking a trip through them, so that I won't accidentally fall victim to the yellow vultures.
Now all the fun of trying to guess the date is over who doing to hazard a guess at the time!
Mid afternoon is my best bet.
I'm going to be going southbound at about 2.30 so might just catch it.
A massive thanks to all the Balfour Beattie workers who have delivered us to this point. You are going to make all those who commute on the A3 very happy. Bring on the 27th July !! What a present this is for my birthday on the 28th !!
Also huge thanks to Gummie for keeping us so well updated via this blog. Please keep it going once the tunnel is open so we can share experiences of how this piece of engineering has improved our lives as well as the environment of the lovely part of the UK we live in.
I wonder when the diary of Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond's diary was updated for him to visit Hindhead and open the tunnel. A freedom of information request might indicate for how long the opening date has been known..
My little princess lives in pompey and we'll be visiting in early august.When it opens can someone blog the time saved on the journey between , say the M25 J10 and pompey please.
ta
Great news huh? Just a question for you "in the know people" have any of you heard about cyclists getting a quick run through the tunnel before it opens? Obviously banned once open but would love a sneaky ride through?
Agentvialli - there was talk of the 'Tunnel Vision' day (back in May) being open to cyclists when it was first being talked about, but apparently the demand for walking tickets was so great that they decided it wouldn't be safe to have bikes as well. I've not heard any other suggestions of a cycling opportunity - has anybody else?
Journey times (in theory) should be reduced on a journey from the M25 to Portsmouth by around 20 minutes, that's provided you have a clear run through Guildford & over Stag Hill.
If you don't then the time saving will of course be negated as it will if PFC are playing at Fratton Park in a pre-season friendly.
"My little princess lives in pompey and we'll be visiting in early august. When it opens can someone blog the time saved on the journey between , say the M25 J10 and pompey please."
For the first few weeks journey times may be longer due to all the sightseers. I bet lots of people will make a journey just to drive through it. Loads of talk on car club forums planning visits in convoy. Loud exhausts + longest road tunnel in UK = boy racer Mecca!
And how long before we see Clarkson driving through as he's only up the road.
gummy you are a star thanks for this blog and all the info it provides and the banter that goes with it shame you are going to miss the big day why dont you organise a meet at the foot bridge when you are back off your hols and we can have a quiet pint at the punchbowl one eve and put some faces to the names anybody else up for that?
Dave (gummy)
Thanks for you efforts with this blog. I am surethat there is a small book to be written about this construction. You are surely the man to write it and earn a few bob to repay you for your efforts over the past couple of year.
(Don't anyon else pinch this idea, Dave deserves it.
A gathering at the Punchbowl for a beer is a fine idea. Anyone else?
Spotted last night on my way to portsmouth a new yellow sign telling us the old road will be closed from the 29th....
.... For safety and operational reasons, the opening ceremony will not be open to the public.... oh dear!
Well done Gummybear for keeping this blog going for all of us to be updated.
I definatley think a beer at the punchbowl is a good idea!
I'll be the 1st to buy gummy a drink and say well done!
Who's with me?????
Steve
It's a pity that you don't have anything better to look forward to.
Got plenty to look forward to thanks. For those of us who commute through / live near Hindhead this tunnel is quite a big thing to happen for our area. It is not every day that you have a project of this size opening right on your doorstep.
Expecting the 7th as the opening date I was really peeved as I was away. Now thrilled it's the 27th as I'm off work and will be hoping to be one of the first through. A momentous day for all of us living in Hindhead. My thanks to all the project team. Been following their progress and it's been a cracking job.
The area will probably be grid-locked Wednesday!
So what time do you think it will be open next Wednesday? Will there be gridlock there also? I guess the speed will be restricted to 40mph or something similar during the first few hours...
It will open at 10.30am Yippee !
It's open - 10.55 or thereabouts.
Now just waiting for the northbound!
Photos on their way to Dave...
I did it! I was the first through behind the rolling road. I'm on the white Vespa. I'm still in sensory overload. What a great occassion. Tunnel workers, locals and VIPs all waving. A great day.
Just seen you on the news paul. you look quite exited, and even though your wearing a helmet could tell you had the biggest smile ever. Quality mate.
Thought scooters were banned!
Nope, only under 50cc.
That's OK then, well done for getting through first.
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