"After nearly 30 years of talking and fundraising, work to return Stonehenge to a more tranquil setting and improve its visitor facilities finally began on Wednesday (11 July).
English Heritage confirms contractor VINCI Construction UK has taken possession of the site at Airman’s Corner, 1.5 miles to the west of the stones, to start construction of the new exhibition and visitor building out of sight of the stone circle. In September, the Highways Agency will start work to upgrade Longbarrow Roundabout prior to the closure of the A344 in April 2013.
The £27-million project has been developed by English Heritage with the support of the National Trust, Wiltshire Council, the Highways Agency, and Natural England. It is financed almost entirely by Heritage Lottery Fund money, commercial income and philanthropic donations including significant gifts from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Linbury Trust and the Wolfson Foundation. There's just £500,000 left to raise, English Heritage has confirmed.
The Stonehenge project will be completed in two phases: in autumn 2013 the new visitor facilities and galleries will open and the A344 will be closed to traffic. By summer 2014 the existing car park, toilets, shop and fencing near the stones will have been removed and restoration of the landscape will be well underway. Click here for the full press release."
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