Following his successful campaign for the A3 tunnel, Jeremy Hunt last week met Paul Arnold from the Highways Agency to discuss the project's progress to date.During the meeting, the likely timetable for action was revealed. Following the consultation this August, the Department for Transport is expected to make a definitive announcement of ministerial support for the scheme. It is then possible, although not guaranteed, that the tunnel will be completed by late 2011 or early 2012. Jeremy is campaigning for the tunnel to be completed before the 2012 London Olympics given the huge amounts of traffic that is likely to be generated on major routes between London and the South Coast.Jeremy said: “Lots of people have become wearily cynical about the tunnel, understandably saying ""I'll believe it when I see it.""""Having secured the funding for the tunnel, I am determined to ensure construction starts as soon as possible before any further delays push up the cost further and possibly jeopardise the scheme. ""That means the Highways Agency need to get on with clearing the area where tunnelling will happen as soon as possible, in particular before next spring when nesting birds make it impossible to remove any trees.""During the meeting with Jeremy, Mr. Arnold stated that -subject to Department of Transport’s decision and funding profiles being agreed by the Highways Agency- it is planned that works on the scheme would progress on the following timescale:• Following a ministerial announcement of support for the scheme in October, the Highways Agency would make the draft orders that allow the project to progress. This should take 3-4 weeks. • There will then be a six week High Court challenge period on each of these orders. • The Highways Agency then hope to take possession of parts of the land required for the scheme early in January 2007 in order to start clearance work. The land will be purchased based on current market values assessed without the impact of the scheme. • The Highways Agency would continue with enabling works through 2007 and hope to begin work on the tunnel itself in 2008. • It should take roughly 4 years until the tunnel is ready for traffic meaning that if work starts in 2007 it should be ready in time for the 2012 London Olympic Games.