New Toucan Crossing on Woking Road to Facilitate Weyside Urban Village Project

Published on: 28 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 1 May, 2025

Google earth aerial photo showing position of the Toucan Crossing on Woking Road to be installed in May.

Work to install a new toucan crossing on Woking Road will begin on Tuesday, May 6. This light-controlled crossing will replace the existing uncontrolled crossing between Old Woking Road and Fir Tree Road.

The new toucan crossing will improve safety. It is named “Toucan” because two can cross: pedestrians and cyclists at the same time.

The work is expected to take approximately nine weeks to complete, subject to weather conditions. Working hours will be from 7.30am to 5.30pm

Toucan Crossing user display

Traffic management measures

Woking Road will remain open throughout the works. Only one lane will be closed at a time, either northbound or southbound, depending on work requirements.
Single-lane closures will be in place daily between 10am and 4pm. Closed lanes will reopen after 4pm each day.
A temporary pedestrian crossing will be installed to ensure public safety. During the time required for its installation and removal, an approved pedestrian diversion route will be in place.
Temporary traffic lights will be used to safely manage vehicle flow during the works.
Full overnight closures will be needed to resurface and paint white lines on the road. These closures will be split into two phases: approximately three nights, followed by a seven-day break, then a further two nights. Overnight hours will be from 8pm to 6am.
Signage will be in place to notify people when the night works will be taking place.

The new crossing is part of a wider series of planned highway improvements that form part of the Weyside Urban Village regeneration transport strategy. These are designed to mitigate the impact of the development while improving access, traffic flow, and safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The full programme of highways works will be delivered over the next three years. Works planned for the coming months will take place at Bellfields Road, Bellfields Junction and Slyfield.

Cllr Tom Hunt

Tom Hunt, Guildford Borough Council’s deputy leader and Lead Councillor for Regeneration, said: “Our priority has always been to deliver the necessary infrastructure to support the Weyside Urban Village ahead of its development. This ensures the community benefits from improved roads and public spaces at the very start of the project.

“While we appreciate that these highway improvements may cause some short-term disruption, they are essential. The works are a crucial part of the wider infrastructure improvements we’re investing in. We want to ensure safer, more efficient travel for all and support the long-term growth of Guildford.”

The Weyside Urban Village project team hold quarterly drop-in sessions at Aggie Club, where people can find out more about the project and ask questions. The next drop-in is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, between 4pm and 7pm.

Responses to New Toucan Crossing on Woking Road to Facilitate Weyside Urban Village Project

Martin Elliott Reply

April 29, 2025 at 6:01 pm

As we are told that Weyside will have all necessary community facilities, I don’t understand why there is a predicted increased usage of this traffic island crossing point.

Fortunately, there are already traffic light controlled crossings to the south and north, so probably no further congestion for the main users of Woking Road.

What would be more interesting would be a reminder of the mentioned highway works, particularly also along Woking Road such as the conversion of the Old GBC depot entrance and modifications of the Bellfields Rooundabout.

The other one that really interests me as a resident in Bellfields and Woking Road generally, is the really useful modification of the Slyfield Idustrial Estate (still sole) entrance.

We’ve seen lots of pre-construction works, with little explanation. I’m not sure if the redesignation of pasture in Jacobs Well Road, as SANG has taken place to replace the widened A320 from Slyfield to Jacobs Well Road, needed land.

Shame it didn’t happen decades ago as planned.
John Lomas Reply

April 30, 2025 at 12:00 pm

The two sets of lights mentioned are about half a mile apart and the proposed crossing is near enough halfway between them and is connecting current pedestrian routes There is absolutely no way that you could get pedestrians or cyclists to divert to the current light controlled crossings unless they actually want those areas of the estates.

As a double walking stick/wheeled frame or disability scooter user I can guarantee that on a pseudo dual-carriageway like that (with a “ghost island and small bollarded island) the only thing which makes motorists even dream of giving way is a set of lights. This is regardless of the new Highway Code rules about the hierarchy of road users under which the most vulnerable (pedestrians, cyclists, horses) have the highest priority. Drivers have a greater responsibility to protect them and for instance give way to pedestrians at junctions or waiting to cross at junctions and crossings.