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A better way to connect the south west of England

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Greengage21 have produced a report for the Transport Action Network proposing a better way of connecting the south west of England to London and the south east.

In 2024, the National Highways’ programme to create a dual carriageway linking the M3 and M5 motorways across Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset was halted. Two planned widening schemes, the A303 Stonehenge tunnel and the A358 Taunton–Southfields (Ilminster) , costing together well over £2.5bn, were cancelled. These schemes had been seen by National Highways as a way to improve connectivity between London and the South East, and the South West. Without these schemes, and several others that would have been needed to complete the ‘A303 Expressway’, there is a question for Government: how does it intend to address the connectivity needs of South West England?

In the absence of a plan based on road widening to provide the improvement in connectivity that South West England needs, with its growing population and undiminished tourism appeal, this report explores what could be done instead. It seeks an approach that will drive economic growth in the South West, help address the additional costs arising for businesses from its peripherality, and support much-needed additional housing that doesn’t rely on more car use and cause more congestion.

It focusses on improving the Salisbury – Exeter rail line instead of spending £billions on the A303 and the other road link.

Click here to download and read the report.

An image of the proposed tunnel for the A303 at Stonehenge