Is the A31 open? National Highways said the road through the New Forest will stay closed for fire damage repairs until the weekend at the earliest after a van caught fire on 9 August between Ringwood and Cadnam.
The closure follows a blaze that Forestry England says destroyed more than 1 sq km, or 247 acres, of the national park. Michael Pittock, head of planning and environment at Forestry England, said: "It is devastating to walk around the area of the wildfire and see so much destruction."
Ringwood and Cadnam closure
The fire began on the A31 dual carriageway between Ringwood and Cadnam and forced the road through the national park to shut while repairs were carried out. For drivers, the practical result is simple: the route remains unavailable today, and National Highways has pushed the earliest reopening to the weekend.
Forestry England said its first inspection found areas devoid of vegetation, dead wildlife and scorched bogs. Pittock added: "Without the remarkable response from the fire and emergency services it could have been so much worse."
New Forest damage
The damage is not limited to the road corridor. Forestry England said ancient oak and beech trees, rare heathland and wetland have been devastated by the fire, and it said recovery could take decades even though the road itself is due back sooner.
That leaves two timelines running at once: traffic on the A31 may resume at the weekend, while the wider environmental recovery will stretch far beyond the repair work. For anyone planning to use the route, the relevant update is the same one National Highways gave: do not expect the A31 to reopen before the weekend at the earliest.
