Roadworks have a habit of becoming part of the furniture once they have dragged on long enough and anyone who has driven through Guildford since the spring will know that the Dennis Roundabout has very much fallen into that category. Diversions, overnight closures and speed restrictions have all become part of getting around this part of the town, as National Highways works through a long list of repairs to the ageing junction. Now, drivers face the biggest disruption yet, with a full weekend closure of the A3 confirmed for later this month.
What They’re Working On
The closure forms the latest stage of a repair programme that has been running since May, when engineers began work on the concrete structure’s bridge supports and bearings. Dennis Roundabout is a two-tier gyratory, whose vast concrete abutments have aged over the years and now need attention to keep the junction safe for the thousands of drivers who use it daily to reach the town centre, as well as the A3, Worplesdon and Stoughton.
Speaking about the works this summer, National Highways project manager Nick Axford said,
Safety is our top priority, and we have already made good progress on these essential repairs, while ensuring Guildford remains open for business. This structure is 45 years old, and just like your car or your house, it needs to be maintained so it’s kept in good working order for the future.
Closure Timings
Arguably the most important of the upcoming closures will see the A3 northbound shut between the Stoke Interchange and the Dennis Interchange from 9pm on Friday the 21st of August, until 6am on Monday the 24th. There will also be a 40 miles per hour speed limit imposed on the southbound carriageway for the duration of the work. An official diversion route has yet to be published, although it is expected to follow those used for previous closures.
Drivers should not expect an immediate return to normal service once the weekend is over, however. More overnight closures are scheduled to take place on both the northbound and southbound carriageways between the Dennis and Stoke Interchanges on Monday, the 24th, and Tuesday, the 25th of August.
Months of Disruption
This is far from the roundabout’s first taste of upheaval this year. Back in May, the opening phase of the works saw scaffolding go up and pedestrians be diverted via the Wooden Bridge Footbridge, which is a diversion that is due to remain in place until December. Carriageway closures followed throughout June and July, as crews worked to smooth out bumps in the road surface above the junction.
Whilst the scale of it all has tested the patience of regular commuters, National Highways maintains that the disruption is a fair trade for a structure that has carried traffic for 45 years without major intervention. Drivers heading through Guildford this month would do well to plan ahead and keep an eye out for the diversion signs once they appear.