MEMBERS of the public are being urged to view and have their say on a proposed £15 million underpass at Hickley's Corner.

A major exhibition of the scheme, which would see a section of the Farnham bypass rebuilt and directed underneath a new roundabout, replacing the traffic light-controlled crossroads, got under way on Wednesday.

An estimated 3,000 people are expected to attend the Church House exhibition, which features a scale model of the scheme, simulations of current and predicted traffic flows and information panels.

The aim is to reduce congestion, separate through-traffic from local vehicles, link the south and north of the town and improve pedestrian safety - in the three years to January, there were 26 accidents at Hickley's Corner, including the death of Turkish au pair Didem Cayirli last December.

The new scheme would allow westbound traffic on the Farnham bypass to to turn right into South Street, and eastbound traffic to turn right into Station Hill. Because of the nearby new slip road, the traffic lights at the junction of the bypass with Weydon Lane would be removed and only left turns into and out of Weydon Lane permitted.

Traffic lights would be installed at the junction of Firgrove Hill and Approach Road, which leads to Farnham station and the BP service station would be reached by a new slip road off the bypass.

Surrey County Council says that the underpass received backing from 88 per cent of the public at exhibitions in 1989.

The exhibition continues tomorrow (Friday) noon-8pm; and Saturday (9am-1pm).