The Beaminster Tunnel is scheduled to re-open on Monday 29 July. Dorset County Council will open the road to two-way traffic at 10am.
Temporary traffic signals may be used to allow the contractors to finish off work and ensure the safety of road users. However these signals will be used only at non-peak times and not during the weekend.
The A3066 was closed due to a large landslip at the North end of the tunnel, in which two people tragically lost their lives. The road has been closed since early July 2012 for extensive stabilisation work and rebuilding of the portals.
The £2.1m project was initially delayed by complex land ownership issues and very bad weather, which prevented access due to the steepness of the slopes.
Rebecca Knox, local county councillor said, “At last the news is good – the date that you have all been asking about for over a year now. This is great news for us all and particularly those who have been affected by the diversions – whether it was travelling them or living along the busy lanes that had to be used. It has been a frustrating year, but, now, we can get on as before, bearing in mind this was a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with those family and friends of those who sadly died last year. “We will finally know the road is open when those diversion signs disappear. What a welcome that will be for everyone.” The current stretch of dry weather has meant that work has progressed as planned. Hilary Cox, Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for environment, said: “This is fantastic news. It has been a very complex project and we have had to overcome a number of difficulties. It has been a test of our engineering skills to find long term solutions to make sure the land around the tunnel is stabilised for the safety of road users. “The slopes will look strange initially, but we will sow wild flowers and then let nature do the rest.”
