Crucial surrey road upgrades continue ahead of 1,550 home project

Progress is continuing on crucial road upgrades in Guildford. Work on major roads which connect the town with Woking are into a third week, with six more to go. Work to install a toucan

crossing and replace the existing uncontrolled crossing between Woking Road and Fir Tree Road in Bellfields have begun, and during these works single-lane closures and temporary traffic

lights on Woking Road are in place daily between 10am and 4pm. Temporary road signs in place on Woking Road state that works are scheduled to continue until July 7, this completion date is

subject to weather conditions. Installing the crossing is one phase of a wider series of roadworks which will take place in the Bellfields and Slyfield areas over the next few years. These

are to improve road safety in the area ahead of the ongoing 1,550 home Weyside Urban Village Project. The two-lane Woking Road is an important road in the Guildford area, acting as a

crossroads with the Parkway A25 road toward the town centre, as a main road connecting Surrey's county town with neighbouring Woking, and providing a slip road connecting Guildford to

the A3. According to road traffic statistics, the A320 Woking Road saw nearly 17,000 vehicles pass through the single-carriageway in 2017, with this statistic only likely increasing in the

near decade since. Further roadworks are expected to come on the estate in the three years following, with these to be focused around improving and expanding Bellfields Road, Bellfields

Junction, Slyfield Green and Woodlands Road. As of May 21, there are temporary traffic lights on both of the parallel Woking Road(s), restricting traffic northbound and southbound to pass

through one carriageway. Resurfacing of the pedestrian pathway which connects these two parallel roads of the same name has been completed. A temporary pedestrian crossing is in place on the

A320 Woking Road, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross in and out of the Bellfields estate through the alley way to Fir Tree Close, and the walkway to Almond Close. This location is

where the toucan crossing it to be built. Six additional weeks of works are expected on Woking Road, subject to weather conditions, during this time, the previously mentioned measures will

be in place. Working hours will be from 7.30am to 5.00pm. The road will remain open throughout, with one of either the northbound or southbound lanes closed at a time, with temporary traffic

lights in place throughout. Additionally, there will be two phases of full, 8pm to 6am, overnight closures to resurface and paint white lines on the road. The first phase will last

approximately three nights, followed by a week-long break, then a second phase of further two nights. Signs will be put up to notify drivers when this will take place. When roadworks began

on May 6, Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Tom Hunt, 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."