It seems that the tunnel's catchment effect has been a little underestimated tho'...
Hindhead tunnel 'turned into Monaco race track'
Residents who waited years for a new tunnel to end congestion that choked a busy main road are facing the new menace of wealthy young drivers who have turned the route into a 200mph race track.
The speed-loving motorists apparently believe the new construction – the longest under-land road tunnel in the UK - resembles the famous Monaco road tunnel used in the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
They are staging dangerous time trials along the 1.2-mile stretch in their powerful sports cars including Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Aston Martins.
Locals in Hindhead, Surrey, welcomed the opening of the A3 tunnel at the end of July, as it diverted queues of traffic away from their homes.
But their satisfaction has turned to dismay and anger as a new and unwelcome set of drivers trying to emulate Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button Sebastian Vettel have turned up on their doorsteps..The racers are lining up to roar through the tunnel late at night.
William Broadhurst who has lived in Hazel Grove, just metres away from the south exit of the new tunnel, for nearly 20 years, said: "It's such a flagship project, and such a good thing that we can construct something of such magnitude, but these reckless drivers are causing us sleepless nights and my very real fear is that there will be a fatality.
"They're turning up in their souped-up cars, their Ferarris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, so they're obviously not just young drivers.
"They are brainless, mindless thugs who are clearly organising this kind of activity. It's nearly always late at night, and a neighbour of ours said he could hear them from a mile away."
Mr Broadhurst can clearly see the drivers from his bedroom window and has reported several licence plates to the police.
As well as racing through the tunnel, he said the drivers are using the south slip road from it as a race track and are performing burn-outs and hand-brake turns around a roundabout near the Royal Junior School.
The 66-year-old, who underwent a triple heart bypass six years ago, added that neighbours who had approached them were subjected to verbal abuse.
"I do understand that the police have limited resources and can't be everywhere all the time, but we were so looking forward to the tunnel opening - it doesn't bode well for the future of the area."
Surrey Police confirmed that complaints had been received regarding dangerous driving.
Neighbourhood specialist officer Jason Clifford said: "It would appear that the enthusiasts are keen to experience the longest under-land road tunnel in the United Kingdom and for some this has led to some extreme driving practices.
"Surrey Police will not tolerate anti-social driving and has as a direct result of reports and complaints from local residents set up specific taskings to tackle the behaviour."
He said CCTV footage from the 130 cameras along the tunnel was being monitored by police.
The Hindhead Tunnel opened southbound and northbound on July 29th, two days ahead of schedule, as part of the new Hindhead bypass for the A3 road in Surrey.
It forms part of a four-mile dual-carriageway being built to replace the last remaining stretch of single carriageway on the 68-mile London to Portsmouth road.
The bypass is intended to improve road safety, reduce congestion and improve air quality.
Lamborghinis,ferraris,souped up cars?? No,mention of old men in kit cars ...can't be us then! ;-)
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