Ash Reaches the Final Phase of the Chester Bridge Project

Published on: 5 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 6 Apr, 2025

Open soon: the section of Ash Church Road that has been resurfaced

By David Reading

Contractors have now finished the road surfacing work near Ash Station, paving the way for the reopening of the recently closed sections of Ash Church Road and Foreman Road.

Guildford Borough Council has said the reopening is likely to take place soon after April 10, giving traffic access to the new Chester Bridge over the railway line.

That part of Ash has been closed to traffic since early February, with diversions in place, as part of the bridge project.

Guildford Borough Council said in a statement this week: “The surfacing work at Ash Church Road and Foreman Road, near Ash Station, is complete.

“Work on road markings and signage is taking place this week. Before opening, a road safety audit must be completed with Surrey County Council, the highway authority. This is scheduled for Thursday, April 10.

Chester Bridge – which opened in early February

“We aim to open the road as soon as possible after the road safety audit is completed. Work on the footpath and drainage close to the level crossing will continue when the road has reopened.”

It was in January 2021 that the Chester Bridge – then unnamed – was approved overwhelmingly by Guildford’s Planning Committee.

Many people are said to have welcomed the new bridge as a means of addressing the traffic jams that occurred when the level crossing barrier was down. But some said they feared the presence of the bridge would simply shift those traffic problems to other parts of Ash.

GBC has assured residents that a traffic monitoring survey will take place within six months of the bridge project completion. The intention, says the council, will be to address any traffic issues caused by the presence of the bridge.