A31 Options

A31 options

The A31 causes heavy traffic and cuts Farnham into two parts. It separates the south from the train station and from the centre and north of the town.

There is a lot of traffic along the A31. We want to make crossing the road easier and safer, so people can move around the town more easily on foot, by bike, or by public transport.

We are working on the Farnham A31 Corridor to:

• Ease traffic build-up and delays on the A31 and at key junctions
• Improve road safety
• Improve the transport network with prioritisation of public transport
• Improve walking and cycling at Hickley's Corner and connections to/and from Farnham Town Centre
• Make it easier for people to move across Farnham and stay connected.
• Reduce the impacts of the level crossing
• Facilitate development in Farnham
• Address air quality issues in Farnham

The A31 is a traffic bottleneck which also splits Farnham in two, creating severance between southern areas and the railway station, and the central and northern areas of the town. 

Department for Transport funding

The cost of the A31 improvements is more than the Farnham Infrastructure Programme partners can afford alone. Therefore, an application is being made for funding from the Department for Transport (DfT). 

To help develop and support our funding submission, we asked for feedback on the options during the town centre consultation in 2022. Details of those options are below.

There will be a full public consultation on the A31 corridor before any final plans are submitted to the DfT.

If the plans are approved at each stage, the process is:

1. Submit a Strategic Outline Business Case to DfT. This was completed in November 2021, and was approved in late 2023.
2. Submit an Outline Business Case. This will include more detailed designs, and impacts on traffic across the town, pedestrians, cyclists and the environment will be assessed in more detail, along with a public consultation.
3. Submit the Final Business Case – the DfT's final decision on whether to fund the scheme is based on this. It will include final detailed designs and costs.

Potential solutions

As part of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme, we plan to upgrade the Coxbridge Roundabout, and the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout, with layout changes, traffic lights on some approaches, lane widening and better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Coxbridge roundabout

The suggested improvements will see better walking and cycling paths and crossings, linking with existing routes and the town centre. For drivers there will be wider approaches from both eastbound and westbound on the A31 and the town centre. The roundabout will be widened to allow for a decided left turn lane off the roundabout in both directions and two dedicated lanes for A31 traffic. 

Shepherd and Flock roundabout

The suggested improvements will see better walking and cycling paths and crossings, linking with existing routes by going through the centre of the roundabout. For drivers there will be an extra lane for drivers travelling westbound on the A31 to increase road capacity for long-distance traffic, with additional traffic light controls. Any changes will be sympathetic to the conservation area. 

Hickley's Corner

Underpass

This option is for an underpass underneath Hickley’s Corner to separate local and longer distance traffic. This is a long-standing suggestion to improve congestion. 

The crossroads would be replaced by a roundabout to take the local traffic, while the A31 would be able to run freely underneath. New slip roads will connect the A31 to the roundabout, Station Hill and South Street. There would also be a new priority link along Station Approach to connect the A287 and A31.

This would be supported by improved facilities for walkers and cyclists and a new bridge at Firgrove Hill.

Firgrove Hill Improvements

This option will take some of the pressure off the Hickley’s Corner junction by providing an additional connection to and from the A31 at Firgrove Hill. 

New slip roads on the westbound carriageway would link to a new roundabout in Station Approach with access to the station, and to Firgrove Hill to access other parts of the town. 

From the eastbound carriageway, new slip roads would lead to a roundabout at Firgrove Hill.

The Firgrove Hill bridge would be upgraded so it can take extra lanes on the A31 and would be supported by improved facilities for walkers and cyclists. 

Improving the existing junction 

This option widens the A31 in both directions with additional lanes. There would be the opportunity to upgrade Station Approach, and no change would be necessary to the bridge at Firgrove Hill.   Additional lanes would allow for a dedicated left turn lane which would allow more queuing capacity. The capacity would allow for more time for pedestrians, cyclists and cars travelling across the A31 to make local journeys.

Modelling 

Work on the A31 corridor is being considered alongside the town centre proposals to ensure they complement each other.

Modelling

Work on the A31 corridor is being considered alongside the town centre proposals to ensure they complement each other.