Plans for a new road which will help to restore the historical landscape surrounding Stonehenge, were unveiled by British Transport Minister Lord Whitty.
      Preferred route status has been granted to the scheme, which will protect the route from development while more detailed plans are prepared. As well as placing the A303 underground to give visitors to the henge uninterrupted views of the stones, the road will bring a variety of benefits to the West Country.
      Sir Jocelyn Stevens, chairman of English Heritage, which is responsible for the management and development of Stonehenge, commented: The proposals are an acceptable and affordable solution which recognises the exceptional environmental sensitivity of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. They combine the protection of the monument and the re-creation of the historic landscape of the World Heritage Site with the much-needed solution to the bottleneck on the A303

Source: Highways Agency Public Relations Department (25 June 99)