There has been considerable progress on a much-anticipated, multi-million pound project to build the UK's longest road tunnel under land.

Roads Minister Mike Penning has seen at first hand progress on the A3 Hindhead bypass project when he was driven through the whole length of the new 1.2-mile tunnel.

It is designed to improve journey times between London and Portsmouth and is due to reach a major milestone next month when a 1.5 mile section of the approach road to the south is to open to traffic.

The Minister heard that drivers should be using the first section of new road to the south of Hindhead in time for the August bank holiday.

The completed scheme will reduce traffic at the notorious bottleneck in Hindhead village and restore peace and tranquillity to a highly valued part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by diverting the A3 away from the Devil's Punchbowl, an internationally protected site, and returning it to its natural tranquillity.

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The tunnel itself is expected to open in summer 2011.

The Minister met construction workers before touring the site of the landmark £371 million project.

Mike Penning said: "The new Hindhead Tunnel and bypass will provide real benefits for everyone.

"Road users, local people, the environment and the economy will all benefit from this major road upgrade.

"I am impressed by the scheme's impeccable environmental credentials.

"The work the Highways Agency is doing here has also provided a valuable source of employment - up to 600 people have been working here at any one time."

Commenting, Highways Agency Project Manager Paul Arnold said: "We are very pleased with the progress we are making on the project. The tunnel is now structurally complete, and in the next few weeks the new section of road at the southern end of the scheme - up to the new Hazel Grove junction - will be completely open to traffic."

The new road will remove the only section of single carriageway on the A3 between London and Portsmouth and the only set of traffic lights on the A3 outside London.

The Highways Agency has been working since 2007 on the four mile Hindhead Bypass road project, of which the 1.2 mile Hindhead Tunnel is a part.

(BMcC/GK)