FOUR months of construction work to put an extra westbound lane under Firgrove Hill Bridge and make alterations to Hickley's Corner will start in mid-January.

Senior Surrey road engineer John Hilder confirmed this week that the two so-called interim measures for the A31 Farnham by-pass - to be implemented pending a major scheme for Hickley's - will go ahead as planned.

"We're going to plan it very carefully so we cause as little inconvenience to the town as possible," he said.

"Any works that can be done without lane closures will be done and any lane closures will be during off-peak hours. Where we have to use temporary traffic lights we'll do it at night. We have no plans to divert traffic."

The £750,000 works could be started this autumn, but that would mean they would span the Christmas season, so officers have decided to delay until January "to avoid potential disruption to the town during the important shopping season".

The Hickley's Corner changes are designed to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists by reducing the width of the carriageway that has to be crossed.

The central reservation will be widened and pedestrian controlled crossings added where not currently in place.

The number of ahead westbound lanes will be reduced from three to two and the left-turn lane to Station Hill will be lengthened.

The two ahead eastbound lanes and left-turn lane will remain.

A pedestrian/cycle crossing will be introduced across Station Hill.

The extra westbound lane Continued from Page 1.

under Firgrove Hill bridge will be accompanied by a three-metre wide shared pedestrian and cycle lane.

In a report to Surrey county councillors officers state: "In combination with the modifications at Hickley's Corner, the efficiency of the bypass should be markedly improved for westbound traffic."

The A31 interim measures were put to the public at the Getting About in Farnham Exhibition last year and responses sought in a questionnaire.

According to Surrey County Council figures, 83 per cent thought an extra lane under Firgrove Hill bridge would reduce town centre traffic.

That result is not one of those contested by Farnham consultant Jeremy Hyman.