County council and university unveil £4m scheme to reduce roundabout congestion
Monday 16 May 2011
Multi-million pound plans have been unveiled to tackle congestion at a key Guildford roundabout.
Surrey County Council has joined forces with the University of Surrey to launch a £4m scheme to improve traffic flow at a busy roundabout outside the Surrey Research Park.
A crossroads with traffic lights will replace the roundabout at the junction of Egerton Road and Gill Avenue. In addition, there will also be better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians with new footpaths and toucan crossings.*
Surrey leader Dr Andrew Povey used the Annual Meeting of the County Council today (10 May) to announce a £2 million investment in the project as part of his commitment to stimulating the economy in Surrey. The university is putting up the other £2m.
Dr Povey said: “With Surrey’s roads carrying nearly twice the national average traffic flow and the county being a powerhouse of the national economy, this is a hugely important scheme for Guildford. This £2m investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting local businesses by providing the infrastructure essential to helping them flourish.
“We are confident that the new layout will significantly improve access to the many businesses and their customers using the science park and will have a major impact on safety for the local community.”
Dr Malcolm Parry, Director of the Surrey Research Park at the University of Surrey said: “The University of Surrey is delighted to announce plans that will lead to vast improvements to the roundabout at the Research Park off the A3 after close consultation with the county council.
“The scheme is designed to produce an improved flow of traffic and deliver greater capacity to benefit all users of this extremely busy junction, providing better access to the hospital and the Research Park. The university has committed £2m to the project as it believes the development will greatly benefit the local community including pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.”
* The final design of the scheme, which Guildford Borough Council has also played a part in developing, will be delivered in the autumn of 2011, with work on the junction currently due for completion by the middle of 2012.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk