National Highways have delivered a series of documents (Route Strategy Initial Overview Reports) on how they plan to maintain and upgrade the national road network over the period third road investment period (2025-2030). These initial strategy reports, after further consultation, will eventually create a Road Investment Strategy (RIS 3).
Broadly the focus of the RIS 3 period is likely to be dominated by maintaining the existing road network will little money focused on upgrades. As far as the South East of the Country is concerned upgrades are likely to be focused on the South Coast A27 Corridor.
The report does recognise that the A3 from Portsmouth to the M25 has major issues.
The government is committed to the M25/A3 Junction works which are now taking place. This will be followed by an upgrade of the junction between the A3 and A247 to the south of Ripley, scheduled for RIS Period 4 2030-2035. This has been included in the local plan 2019 as Policy A42 in the Local Plan 2019: Land for new north facing slip roads to/from A3 at Send Marsh/Burnt Common
The Report identifies areas for further investigation, where interventions have the potential to help achieve the majority of a route objectives. The A3 in Guildford is identified as a area for further investigation.
The report notes that:
“There are safety issues some of which involve motorcyclists on the A3 near Godalming and around central Guildford. There are high levels of total delay and morning peak delays around Compton and afternoon peak, non-recurrent and seasonal delay particularly around central Guildford and at grade separated junctions to the south of Guildford. The A3 also creates noise and air quality impacts where it passes close to receptors. The route also runs adjacent to the Surrey Hills AONB. In combination with the issues noted Growth in economic activity and employment is expected in and around Guildford where significant local plan housing and mix used development is proposed. Catering for strategic travel, particularly for freight, on the A3 between Portsmouth and Guildford remains important to support this.”
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