Going under the Devil's Punch Bowl: the story of the A3 Hindhead tunnel, UK Available to Purchase

The £371 million A3 Hindhead tunnel road scheme in Surrey, England was opened to traffic in July 2011, ending over half a century of congestion in a highly prized and protected natural environment. It consists of a 6·4 km dual two-lane bypass of Hindhead, including a 1·8 km long twin-bore tunnel under Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punch Bowl, part of the Surrey Hills designated area of outstanding natural beauty. The scheme was delivered by the Highways Agency on behalf of the secretary of state for transport. This paper provides an overview of how, following 22 years in gestation, this challenging project was delivered almost flawlessly through intelligent planning, collaborative working and comprehensive engagement of the local community.