CONSTRUCTION on the proposed £107 million tunnel on the A3 at Hindhead is expected to begin within seven years.
The announcement came in the form of a letter to SW Surrey MP Virginia Bottomley after her parliamentary question asking for a set timetable for work on the tunnel.
In the letter, Highways Agency chief executive Tim Matthews said: "Subject to completing the design process and obtaining the necessary statutory approvals, we expect to begin construction within seven years."
He added: "Our first task is to appoint agents to carry out the detailed design of the scheme.
"After that we will have to complete the statutory procedures including an environmental assessment, a possible public inquiry and land acquisition."
Stating that she found Mr Matthews' response "encouraging", Mrs Bottomley said: "I shall do all I can to accelerate the timetable and press the Highways Agency to make urgent progress.
"What we really want is action rather than words."