How to keep HGVs on the A-Roads

Addressing the problem of construction traffic on the “Western Corridor”  Station Lane / Salt Lane / Markwick Lane

Suggested options – a document for discussion

Aim:

To restrict West-EastHGV through-traffic using this strategic 8 mile route from A3 at Milford to Cranleigh / Dunsfold and the reverse route.

Requirements:

To keep >7.5ton HGVs on the A-Roads.

To permit local deliveries and emergency vehicles

Not to impinge on normal traffic

To be simple and low impact on the rural landscape.

To provide option for those HGVs that approach the Restriction and need to turn back.

To be located where it can not be circumvented by side routes.

To minimise displacement of HGV through traffic onto other unsuitable routes.

The current system of blue advisory “Unsuitable for HGVs” signage for the whole route.

Signs are ignored.

This has a limited deterrent effect as HGV drivers have a get-out excuse that they were using the route for “local deliveries”.  My experience shows that many HGVs that regularly use of this route are through traffic or construction vehicles destined for Cranleigh and Horsham. Surrey CC Highways recent study shows that 89% of HGVs using this route are not making local deliveries.   Many HGV drivers follow non-HGV Sat Navs and so Markwick Lane is often displayed as the shortest route. The blue signs presents little deterrent to HGV drivers. Currently 96 HGVs (>7.5ton) use this route each day.


Option to replace blue advisory signs with red 7.5t Restriction Signage

A deterrent

Drivers that ignore a Red sign commit a road traffic offence. This will have a much greater deterrent to HGVs as there is no “advisory get-out” they can invoke, and they’ll know their haulier’s tracking system will corroborate their incursion beyond the signs.  There is an argument that this is unenforceable – we are not looking for any more enforcement than we see for the current blue signs.

The deterrent that comes with an unequivocal restriction is the primary strength of this option.

The suggested placement of 7.5T prohibition signage is made with a view to prohibiting the East-West HGV rat-run traffic and the North-South route on the B2130. This should keep rat running HGVs on the more appropriate A-roads. The displacement to other undesignated rural roads is likely to be minimal as none offer a viable transit route East-West. A google-map route plan from Cranleigh crossroads to the A3 without using Markwick Lane suggests the A281 North is the viable alternative.

Current extent of limited protection of advisory blue signs (click to enlarge)
Option A: Location of new signs in a suggested scheme for replacement of blue signs with red HGV prohibited signs and the area of protection offered by the additional deterrent to HGV drivers (click to enlarge)
Option B. As Option A but with A1 signs placed at Milford Crossroads, not bottom of Tuesley Lane

What type of vehicles would be prohibited by 7.5t restrictions?


Update May 2024

Surrey County Council have now developed the plan based on Option B as proposed by me, but after consultation with the wider Parishes they have extended the scheme southwards to create Surrey’s largest HGV restriction zone.

You can comment on the scheme using the link below.

https://www.surreysays.co.uk/environment-and-infrastructure/waverley-eastern-villages-hgv-zone/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1-AWRUZ6M0Wtvj5knX-FSut3jb7EEhnKWDJ9a2Ug-NpwDD41kn2VNWyro_aem_AT5nMRKVGazoRoR5NDmXAGI3U6me_vrNDc-7bS9DJPXnJQk2DNF_-jZSsZUWF9pKsGInAkeCOgdbDRvjl06csKBp