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Scheme background
The junction at Three Arch Road and Maple Road on the A23 is an important junction. It is on the main route to East Surrey Hospital and connects drivers, bus users, cyclists and pedestrians with Redhill town centre to the north and Horley, Gatwick Airport and Crawley to the south.
Currently, the junction suffers from congestion, particularly during peak commuting hours in the morning and evening. This causes severe traffic delays and queues, which results in fumes and pollution.
Being a main access point for East Surrey Hospital also means congestion at the junction can delay ambulances in an emergency and cause problems for staff and visitors travelling to the hospital.
Improvements to the junction will improve traffic flow, creating new lanes, and improve the junction for cyclists and pedestrians and reduce journey time for buses.
Work on this junction was previously consulted on in late 2018, early 2019. The feedback from residents has been taken into account and we are now proposing a slightly revised layout for the junction.
Following the earlier consultation, the delays to the scheme are as a result of the complexities of land acquisition for the highway widening and the need to secure funding.
Proposed changes
- Widening of current junction layout arrangement, with additional northbound through lane and southbound left turn lane.
- Improved traffic signal system to reduce vehicle waiting times.
- Signal-controlled pedestrian and cycle crossings.
- Improved existing footpaths and adding a new footpath linking the eastbound bus stop to Redhill Football Club.
Improvements to the pavements and cycle lanes were made following feedback on the previous consultation.
Benefits of the scheme
- Capacity improvements will reduce congestion and traffic delays.
- Journeys through the junction for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists will be quicker, especially in the morning and evening peak hours.
- Reduced waiting time at the junction for emergency vehicles and visitors to East Surrey Hospital.
- Less congestion and queuing at the junction will be beneficial for air quality.
- Improved bus reliability and journey time savings, with priority given to late running buses at the traffic signals.
- Shared paths and new crossings will provide safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians and improved access to the bus stops and Redhill Football Club.
Timeline
Implementing the scheme requires land acquisition, affecting common land and adjacent allotment land space. Surrey County Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council are working together to provide compensatory land nearby. It is hoped that land acquisition and exchange will be completed by March 2024.
Construction is expected to start at the end of 2024 and take up to 8 months.
In the interim, we are working with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to provide a temporary improved footpath to Reigate Football Club and to introduce peak period parking restrictions on Horley Road to improve peak time traffic flow and reduce congestion.
Public information sessions
We held two public information sessions on 7 and 8 December which gave members of the public the opportunity to view plans and speak to the project team about the Three Arch junction, highway and active travel improvements. The sessions were held at Redhill Football Club.
