GBC Dismisses Fears That New Ash Road Bridge Will Cause Traffic ‘Bottleneck’

Published on: 15 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 14 Jan, 2025

View from the soon-to-be-opened Ash road or Chester Bridge looking north.

By David Reading

Guildford Borough Council has dismissed concerns that the new Ash road bridge – named the Chester Bridge – will cause a traffic bottleneck at the “Dover Arms” roundabout.

Critics of the bridge project have expressed fears on numerous occasions that while the bridge will address the problem of traffic jams at the Ash level crossing – which will be closed to vehicles – there will be knock-on problems at other parts of Ash.

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

Other points that have now emerged include:

GBC says a new central island will be installed in Ash Church Road near Foreman Road to help pedestrians get across safely – for example those people coming out of Ash Station.
The Stagecoach bus company is planning to divert the No.20 bus via Grange Road during Phase 5 of the bridge project, in which major work is undertaken in Ash Church Road between the level crossing and Britten Close.
The question of a new footbridge is still unanswered. GBC said: “Provision and construction of the footbridge is solely a Network Rail responsibility. Network Rail is currently working on a feasibility study, which should be complete around February. We have a budget set aside to take Network Rail’s design through the planning process only.”

The possibility of traffic jams occurring during peak times at the “Dover Arms” roundabout was raised this week by Dragon reader Mr Frank Emery, a frequent user of the A323. He said he feared the roundabout would become “a bottleneck” – a possibility that has been raised before.

Critics have expressed concerns that during peak times, traffic arriving down Ash Hill Road will be held up at the roundabout by the large volume of traffic coming from the direction of the new road bridge and heading right towards Guildford. At present the queuing is relieved by the barriers going down. These enforced gaps will no longer exist under the new scheme.

Mr Emery said: “Personally I feel that roundabouts can be despairingly time-consuming, particularly when some drivers choose not to venture onto them if a vehicle is approaching from the right. I will be interested to see how this all pans out.”

But GBC said in a statement: “We don’t envisage that the roundabout will create a problem because roundabouts are efficient when it comes to the flow of traffic. During peak hours, roundabouts can handle more traffic flow and reduce the amount of congestion.

“Surrey County Council, as the highways authority, has had input into the scheme design and has approved the traffic flow designs. They have also carried out three road safety audits for the Ash road bridge project since inception, the final one being part of the sign off approval for the bridge to open to traffic.

“A traffic monitoring survey will also take place within six months after the project is complete.”

GBC has said it remains committed to working with the highways authority to open the bridge in a safe and timely way. A date for the opening has not yet been released but there are indications that it will be some time after February 8.

GBC said: “We are still waiting for formal confirmation of the necessary sign-offs from Surrey County Council and Network Rail. VolkerFitzpatrick (the contractor) has submitted requests for diversion routes to Surrey County Council for 8 February as this is the earliest date the bridge could open after the approvals are received.”

GBC has also responded to concerns about the safety of rail passengers using Ash Station.

There are fears that passengers coming out of the station who need to cross the road will find it difficult to do so because of the constant stream of traffic. At present, they get a chance to cross when the barriers go down.

A council statement said: “There will be an allocated crossing place, utilising a new central island, on Ash Church Road before the road turns into Foreman Road. This will allow pedestrians to cross the road in two halves. The crossing will be near the footpath and steps leading up to Foreman Park. This area will also be included in the traffic monitoring survey which will take place within six months after the project is complete.”

A further question raised by one resident is: How are rail passengers going to get to the station once the barriers are permanently down?

Ash Level crossing barriers down.

GBC said: “The barriers will not be permanently down, they will operate as they currently do when a train is approaching. Therefore, the crossing will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists after the bridge is opened. The overall layout at the level crossing is intended to deter motorcyclists from using it as there is a landscaped area between the road and the crossing. This design has been agreed with SCC as highway authority and Network Rail.”

The Stagecoach bus company is at present making plans to divert buses while Phase 5 of the bridge project is carried out.

Giving a clue to the planned date of the new bridge opening, Stagecoach says on its website: “Part of Ash Church Road near to the Ash Rail Station level crossing is due to be closed, so that the level crossing can be dismantled. This is currently scheduled for 8th February 2025, however we are awaiting confirmation of this date.

“This closure is expected to coincide with the opening of Chester Bridge. Whilst Ash Church Road is closed, route 20 will divert from Ash Street via Grange Road, Foreman Road, Chester Bridge, Leyscroftes Road and Stonehill Road, rejoining the normal route on Guildford Road at the Ash Hill Road stops. The bus stops at St Peter’s Church, Ash Rail Station and Chester Road will not be served. Once the closure has been lifted, route 20 will use Chester Bridge, Leyscroftes Road and Stonehill Road as its permanent route, as all traffic will be routed this way.”