A BUSY section of road that runs right past Stonehenge is to close permanently on Monday (June 24) as part of the ongoing multi-million pound improvement project at the site.

The section of the A344, between Stonehenge Bottom (junction of A344 and A303) and Byway 12, crosses the ancient processional approach to the monument, known as the Avenue.

The closure will fulfil the commitment given by the UK Government to UNESCO in 1986 to remove it, facilitating greater access to the World Heritage Site.

From Monday, traffic for Stonehenge and other nearby villages will be re-directed via Longbarrow Roundabout (junction of A303 and A360) and Airman’s Corner (junction of A360 and A344).

Motorists travelling west on the A303 will see a sign in the vicinity of Stonehenge Bottom indicating that they should continue straight ahead for Stonehenge. There will also be signs at Longbarrow roundabout. Over the summer, work will start to remove the high fences along the road and the road surface itself will be removed and grassed over.

Loraine Knowles, Stonehenge director at English Heritage, said: “The stones have never failed to impress visitors, but for too long their setting has marred people’s appreciation and enjoyment of this special place. At last, this is going to change.

“For the first time in centuries, when all the works are complete, people will be able to experience this complex and extraordinary monument in a more tranquil, natural setting.”

The Highways Agency has upgraded Longbarrow roundabout and English Heritage has created a new roundabout at Airman's Corner to accommodate the re-routed traffic.

The new Stonehenge visitor centre, located 1.5 miles away from the stones, is scheduled to open in December. The remaining section of the A344 between Airman's Corner and Byway 12 will become the route of a new visitor shuttle service to and from the stones.

The £27m project will be completed in June 2014 when all the landscape restoration work has been carried out.