PROPOSALS for a £15 million underpass at Hickley's Corner are expected to be displayed at a public exhibition.

Waverley's Local Committee agreed to consult the public on the scheme, construction work on which should start in 2007, subject to funding.

It is hoped the building of a large roundabout at the current ground level and the building of an underpass underneath for A31 traffic will reduce Farnham bypass congestion and better link the north and south of the town.

It is also hoped the measure will improve safety.

In December a Turkish au pair was killed when she crossed the junction. This followed the deaths of pedestrians in 1988 and 1990.

Eighteen people have been injured at the crossroads between 1999 and 2001, an average of six a year. Sites with an average of four or more accidents a year are classified as accident black spots.

Road officers will put in a bid for the scheme in July next year, reported engineer John Hilder, adding it would cost "probably in the order of £15 million".

County councillor for Farnham Central Marie King-Hele said: "We warmly welcome this going to public consultation. This has been a load on one's mind for many years - the car race that goes on up there. So let us rejoice that we're going to get this now."

The chaos anticipated due to the upgrading work on Farnham bypass failed to materialise this week, with most of the building work delayed until site offices were installed and site clearance carried out.

A spokesman for Surrey County Council, Joy Ridley, confirmed that adverse weather conditions had also been a factor.

The scheme includes the provision of an additional westbound lane between Hickley's Corner and Weydon Lane under Firgrove Hill Bridge, a 50 mile speed limit along that stretch and improved pedestrian facilities at Hickley's Corner.

However the interim measures have prompted criticism from some quarters.

Farnham resident Jez Hyman claims that costs of the scheme have escalated from £630,000 to £1.5 million.

"Why are we wasting £1 million on this temporary scheme which will only last for three or four years before it is replaced with the major scheme?"

Mr Hyman feels the planned interim measures are ill thought-out and will not address the traffic problems.

"The traffic lights at Hickley's Corner and Weydon Lane need to be working together. You've got two sets of lights just 100 yards apart and they've not phased them, which is just clogging up the traffic.

"There should also be an extra Guildford-bound lane at the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout."

He added: "My main concern is the major scheme in 2007 which I think could result in the loss of Borelli Walk."