A3 Safety Improvements ‘Failing to Solve Problem of Deadly Junction’

Published on: 24 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 25 Jan, 2019

Beechcroft Drive accident map

The display featuring the A3 safety improvements for Guildford last weekend (January 18/19), attended by staff from Highways England and its contractor Kier Highways, has been queried by Cllr Bob McShee (Independent, Worplesdon).

Cllr Bob McShee

The councillor, who was at the Guildhall exhibition, said: “Regrettably, there was no information to resolve the problem of the “Deadly Junction”, at Beechcroft Drive/A3, and I doubt if the proposed improvements will do anything to resolve this dangerous safety issue.

“Surrey County Council has said the junction is not in their remit, the A3 is the responsibility of Highways England and Beechcroft Drive is a private road. So the ‘Deadly Junction’ is being left unimproved, and a final solution to the problem seems miles away.”

Included in the overall proposed works are:

Installation of average speed cameras at the 50mph zone northbound only between the Hogs Back and the Dennis roundabout. These cameras will be yellow with clear signage so drivers know they are there;
Widening and extending the northbound slip road at the university interchange; and
Extending the length and width of the southbound slip road at the Stoke interchange.

These improvements are to start this month and will take approximately seven months to complete at a cost of £5million. The works will be staged and the slip roads subjected to overnight closures (9pm to 6 am), with weekend closures of the slip road at the Stoke interchange (9pm Friday to 5am Monday). During the closures of the slip roads, a clearly signed diversion will be in place.

Traffic lights will be installed on the Tesco roundabout late this year.

For more information contact Highways England: email info@highwaysengland.co.uk or telephone: 0300123 5000.

Responses to A3 Safety Improvements ‘Failing to Solve Problem of Deadly Junction’

John Lomas Reply

January 24, 2019 at 12:05 pm

Re the Beechcroft Drive junction, living away from the area now my view of it is restricted to Streetview https://goo.gl/maps/xhr8DaRrjPQ2 but I have questions and observations.

The effective viewing distance of the LH lane for a driver’s eye line positioned around 4 to 6ft back from the giveway line is currently less than about 40 metres.

Who owns the land on which those trees stand?

No doubt the trees need to remain, but removing all that underbrush would improve the view to the southwest for emerging traffic, it is also vital that any street furniture/signage is not placed so as to block/impede vision to the right, I can’t tell from the Streetview if it does impede. I notice that there are No Entry signs at the dual carriageway gap the one to the right should preclude right turns out of Beechwood. But is there a No Right Turn sign or Left Turn Only to reinforce this?