The Atkins/Arup joint venture (JV) has been awarded a £17.5 million contract to develop a preferred option for improvements to the A303 in Wiltshire.

The government has pledged to improve a section of the carriageway between Amesbury and Berwick Down as part of its £15 billion five-year Road Investment Strategy.

In addition, the JV will draw up designs for a tunnel near Stonehenge and a bypass near the village of Winterbourne Stoke.

Following public consultations and a preferred route announcement, the proposed scheme is on target to begin construction by April 2020.

-- Advertisement --

Project Manager Andrew Alcorn, who is leading the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme, said: "This award takes us another step closer to our commitment to deliver the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Improvement Scheme.

"Now we have Atkins/Arup on board to help with developing options for the scheme and pre-construction planning, we will be able to take the next step towards making this scheme a reality."

Lesley Waud, Strategic Highways Market Director, Atkins, added: "This is a much needed scheme that will play a pivotal role in relieving congestion and improving journey times.

"We are delighted to work in partnership with Arup in delivering this vital project that will not only generate major benefits to better meet the needs of the travelling public, but will also support local economic growth in the long term."

The contract has been awarded under Highways England's Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF).

(LM)