A3 - A31
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Ordnance Survey map Alternative aerial view
Where is it?
At the southern end of the old, narrow and congested Guildford Bypass, where the A31 parts ways with the A3 and heads off to Hampshire.
What's wrong with it?
It's a free-flowing junction between two busy dual carriageway A-roads. Surely that's a good thing!
Well - yes and no. Yes, it's a good thing, because if it was a set of traffic lights or a poky little roundabout that connected the A3 and A31, then I'd still be complaining and banging my fist on the desk with righteous indignation about the fact that Something Must Be Done.
No, it's not such a good thing, because it was designed in the mid-1930s and exists as much because of the geography of the area as anything else. As a result it's full of tight corners, blind summits and sudden merges where you can't see what's coming - not just on the sliproads, you understand, but on the mainline A3 as well. Yikes.
Why is it wrong?
It's very very old, silly. Not that old is automatically bad, of course. There are some lovely old things in the world. If you have grandparents you'll know just what I mean.
In this case, because it's old it was built without the design standards we would employ today which mean that, for example, coming south on the A3 the right turn as the sliproad leaves is completely blind for traffic in the right-hand lane.
The engineers of the 1930s never meant for it to be quite like this, you understand. No - in their day, what is now the east-to-north sliproad was a two-way road with a T-junction at each end, so anyone turning between the A3 and A31 would have gone that way. The south to west sliproad was an innovation of the 1970s, at which point it became possible to go fast around here, and that's where the problem lies.
If you dawdled along here at 40mph, took it nice and steady through the merges and corners, you'd be fine. Time to see what's coming and enough visibility to cope with it. But then if you dawdled along here at 40mph you'd be rear-ended by an impatient Surrey BMW before you'd driven a hundred yards, so really that's not such a great option.
What would be better?
This junction - and, indeed, the whole southern half of the Guildford Bypass - needs help. Just to the north there's some flat junctions with traffic crossing on the level. Frightening.
Major reconstruction is unlikely, because the people living nearby would never stand for it. But it should at least be possible to lengthen the merge from the A31, shouldn't it?
Right to reply
Hate this junction? Or do you think it hasn't had a fair trial? Make yourself heard! Post a comment.
These are the most recent comments on this junction. You can see all comments if you prefer.
Bibhas Neogi writes:
The A31 slip road from the A3 towards Farnham was built in or around 1970. Before that the route to Farnham at this junction here was through the current A31 eastbound on-slip which was then two-way. You were able to turn left from the A3 onto this two-way road until the early 90s when this was stopped up and the the A31 on-slip was made one-way single lane for safety. A Sign was put up on the A3 advising motorists to take the B3000 as there was no left turn ahead from the A3 to A31 Hog's Back.
The A31 on-slip merge with the A3 had been lengthened in the mid 90s. The scheme to widen the A3 from this junction to Dennis roundabout (A322) has been suspended following cuts in the roads programme. I have outlined my ideas of how this junction could be improved on my website which may be found by searching for 'revampguildfordgyratory'.
Jack is on the offensive:
Well, I'm probably not going to be very popular, but what on earth's the fuss all about?? The speed limit is 50 here, and all you've got to do is drive defensively!
Ian Saunders begs to differ:
Hi Chris.
Go on, I'll bite. I like the junction. No that's too weak. I love the junction! Not in a buy-it-flowers and take-it- to-a-movie kind of way, but I do use and enjoy it whenever I'm heading out to the South West.
I'm happy to admit I don't use it much in rush hour, but it's not always at 5 am either. When I've used it I've never once stopped and usually don't have to slow down either (and no I don't have a BMW).
You mention youself that it's free flowing and not a light or roundabout in sight. For me that makes it a great junction. So you have to make people brake a bit coming onto the A3 from the A31. It's near London and people should be used to assertive driving.
Grebbsy recounts a dark moment in this junction's past:
It isn't every Bad Junction which can boast to have claimed the life of a Formula 1 motor racing driver, but this one can (Mike Hawthorn in 1959).
Timbo writes:
I agree this junction is way below spec for the traffic it carries, and part of the problem is that it is at the crest of the Hogs Back which inevitably affects sightlines.
