PROPOSED upgrades for anti-congestion measures for Hickley's Corner in Farnham are now to be carried out AFTER work on an additional bypass lane at Firgrove Hill.

Surrey County Council engineers had previously indicated that the preliminary scheme could be given the go-ahead for the next financial year, starting in April.

A government grant of £23.5 million has now been awarded for road schemes across the county, funding both the Firgrove and preliminary Hickley's Corner scheme.

A more comprehensive Hickley's scheme, involving a slip road onto the A31 and costing up to £30 million, will not happen for at least five years.

Plans for the preliminary scheme include creating larger pedestrian-friendly traffic islands, and computer-controlled traffic lights.

The new lights are based on a system known as MOVA, which was installed last year at the Shepherd and Flock roundabout.

These computerised lights work by monitoring traffic flows and congestion, and are operated to reflect road conditions.

Senior Surrey road engineer John Hilder said the road upgrades on the A31 were an important part of its work in the county.

"The Hickley's project is primarily for pedestrians, with the larger islands being created, and will also improve the flow of traffic."

He added that the Hickley's Corner project would "remove the barrier which the A31 forms between the station and the town centre".

On the other plans, he said: "Firgrove Hill suffers real bottleneck road conditions, and is a source of major queues as people are tempted to go through the town rather than use the by-pass.

"We should see a lot of improvement on the by-pass with the new lane.

"Feasibility work on the upgrade has started, and will initially be west-bound, but we would like it for both directions if possible."

Work is expected to start on it by winter 2002, and it will take several months to complete.