New Chester Bridge Opens But Some Ash Residents Express Frustration

Published on: 10 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 14 Feb, 2025

Two of the first cars to use the bridge.

By David Reading

Things didn’t go entirely to plan on Day One of the new Ash road bridge.

The bridge opened, as planned, at 7am on Saturday. Very soon, a trickle of traffic was venturing over the new structure.

A supermarket delivery lorry heads towards Ash Station – only to find the road closed.

So far so good. But after a few hours the traffic lights in Foreman Road were stuck on red. They had been set up to to enable pedestrian access between Woodroffe Close and Meade Walk. One driver said she sat in a queue for ten minutes. Another reported that 15 cars had queued in Grange Road.

Drivers queue at the temporary lights at Foreman Road. The road is single lane temporarily to enable pedestrian access.

There was much chatter on social media about the bridge opening and associated road diversions, a lot of it expressing frustration. Commenting on the signage, one contributor said: “It doesn’t help that the signage from the bridge (at the Foreman Road end) is confusing. telling traffic to go right…but the road ahead is closed.”

Update: During the Monday morning rush hour, traffic was heavy in Grange Road and Foreman Road but was moving freely in that part of Ash.

Despite the negative comments on social media, Guildford Borough Council is convinced the new bridge – named Chester Bridge – will bring benefits to Ash thanks to the closure of the level crossing.

Today (Monday February 9th) Phase Five of the bridge project is scheduled to begin.

The work is expected to take about nine weeks and will include reconstruction of Ash Church Road between Britten Close and Foreman Road. This stretch of road, and the level crossing, will remain closed during this phase and major diversions will be maintained.

The No. 20 was one of the early vehicles to use the bridge just after the 7am opening

The Number 20 bus has been diverted temporarily and the bus stops at St Peter’s Church, Ash Station and Chester Road will not be served during Phase Five.

The closure sign on the A323 near Grange Road. Some drivers clearly didn’t believe it and carried on until they were turned back just before Ash Station

Cars, light vehicles and the bus are being diverted from Ash Street along Grange Road, Foreman Road, over the new bridge, and through the new Wildflower Meadow Estate. Traffic rejoins Guildford Road at the “Dover Arms” roundabout.

Guildford Borough Council says that while the diversion is in force, HGVs are being advised to take a longer diversion route from the A331, along the A31 and A3, then back to Ash via the A323.

The intention is to reduce heavy traffic on the narrower roads of the diversion route. HGVs will be able to use the bridge at the end of Phase Five, in about nine weeks’ time.

As the sign says, the road near Ash Station will be closed for nine weeks

The council says pedestrian and cyclist access to the railway station will be maintained throughout Phase Five, with a signed diversion between Grange Road and Ash Church Road. Pedestrians and cyclists will also still be able to cross the railway at the level crossing, and will also be able to use the new bridge.

Some road works will also take place on Guildford Road north of the level crossing. A council statement said: “This won’t affect access to the station car park, The Ashtrees or Chester Road. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to cross the railway at the level crossing.”