Following a survey of the footbridge (footpath 184) over the M3 between Bagshot and Lightwater, National Highways took the decision to implement an emergency closure with immediate effect on Tuesday 3rd October 2023.
National Highways’ structural assessment of the footbridge in September identified significant structural defects, and their intention is to demolish the footbridge. A replacement will be installed, however, the construction of this is not expected to be finished until Autumn 2025. The current two year timeframe provided by National Highways is unacceptable, as the footbridge provides a vital link between the two villages. Local Conservative Councillors and Michael Gove MP are campaigning for a replacement to be prioritised.
Demolition of the existing footbridge is set to take place on the second weekend in December, with the M3 set to be closed in both directions from Junction 3 to Junction 4 from 21:00 on Friday 8th 06:00 on Monday 11th December. Significant delays in the local area and heavy congestion on the A30 is expected.
LATEST UPDATE: 29th April 2024 – Michael Gove MP received a progress report from National Highways on the replacement footbridge, which you can read below, and will continue to keep in close touch with National Highways and will share any news.
19th April 2024 – Following Michael Gove MP's virtual catch up on 12th April with Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, Michael received the following update:
Thank you for attending the meeting with my team and I on 12 April 2024. As requested, I am writing to provide more detail on the progress to date and next steps.
As discussed, I am pleased to confirm that we are still on track to install the new footbridge in May 2025. Please see below updated timeline, listing the activities in detail:
- Options identification: complete
- Options selection: complete
- Surveys: complete
- Preliminary design: ongoing - due for completion 30 April 2024. Our chosen option for the steel truss footbridge has been accepted by our Safety Engineering and Standards Team and is now being incorporated into the finalised options report.
- Detailed design: May 2024 to October 2024
- Mobilisation: October 2024
- Construction: November 2024 – May 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
We will be carrying out the following in the detailed design stage commencing in May;
- Securing technical approvals for the design and temporary works activities
- Undertaking monthly environmental surveys, including placement of reptile mats and dormice boxes to monitor any activity over the coming months and secure licenses in advance of construction if required.
- Obtaining consents from Natural England for working adjacent to the Colony Bog and Bagshot Heath Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) during construction.
- Continuing liaison with Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) to secure land easements as the footprint of the new footbridge slightly extends into their land ownership boundary.
- Fabrication of the new steel footbridge, noting a pre-order is already in place with the supplier.
- Booking road space for our required traffic management and closures, working closely with our National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme to minimise disruption.
- Preparing a detailed communications strategy to notify residents and stakeholders of the proposed closures.
- Refining and confirming construction programme and working methodology.
To keep the local communities informed, we have produced an information poster which has been placed on the approach to either side of the bridge location and around the Lightwater Leisure Centre.
We’ve also had extensive engagement with SHBC and Surrey County Council (SCC), teams and councillors over the past few months to keep them informed of the progress on the project. Our next meeting with them is on the 24 April where we will be sharing the details contained in this letter.
As previously discussed, some activities in our programme do carry some risk, however we are working collaboratively with all parties to maintain this programme to meet our target opening date.
12th April 2024 – Michael Gove MP had a virtual catch-up with Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, and asked for an update on the progress so far on the replacement footbridge.
8th February 2024 – Michael has written to Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, to request an update on the preliminary design stage of the programme, and has asked if there have been any further changes to the timings for the delivery of the new footbridge.
20th December 2023 – Michael Gove MP receives a response from National Highways outlining how they plan to expedite the delivery of the replacement footbridge
Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, wrote to Michael outlining how programme savings will be achieved through a combination overlapping some of the design sequences, sharing road space with other works and early engagement with the supply chain. A copy of the letter can be viewed below.
6th December 2023 – Michael Gove MP holds a follow-up meeting with Christine Allen National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East
A virtual meeting was held with several other National Highways team members for an update on the timescale for the replacement footbridge. National Highways originally stated it would take around twenty four months for a new footbridge to be installed, but now hopes to deliver the footbridge in May 2025, five months earlier than first planned.
30th October 2023 - National Highways publishes a document on the footbridge closure, outlining the reasons for the bridge being closed and their plans for the upcoming demolition on Friday 8th to Monday 11th December
Following the document being published, Michael Gove MP wrote again to National Highways regarding the promised timetable with the expected timings for the replacement footbridge and what improvements to other pedestrian provisions in the area will be carried out whilst construction is in process.
16th October 2023 - Minister for Roads and Local Transport and National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, respond to Michael Gove MP
Roads Minister, Richard Holden MP, and Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, write to Michael. Copies of the letters can be viewed below. Commenting, Michael said:
"I am still awaiting a full timetable of the expected timings from National Highways, which I will share as soon as I can, but as you will see from the letter, National Highways is planning for the demolition of the bridge to take place in the second weekend of December, from 21:00 Friday 8th through to 06:00 Monday 11th.
"National Highways has also promised to provide an FAQs document for local residents, which I will post here once received. In the meantime, should any residents have any particular thoughts or concerns they wish me to raise directly with National Highways, please do contact me at [email protected]"
13th October 2023 - Meeting held between National Highways, local Councillors for Bagshot and Lightwater, and Michael Gove MP, on the emergency closure of the footbridge over the M3
A virtual meeting was held with Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, and over the course of the meeting, it was made clear how the current proposals by National Highways for a replacement footbridge to be installed by late autumn 2025 are unacceptable.
9th October 2023 – Michael Gove MP writes to the Roads Minister on the closure of the footbridge
Michael has formally written to the Roads Minister following their telephone conversation, and he will be meeting Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, later this week.
6th October 2023 – Michael Gove MP contacts the Roads Minister, Richard Holden MP, to express his concerns at the sudden closure of the footbridge
Michael telephoned the Roads Minister, Richard Holden MP, to express his concerns at the sudden closure of the bridge and also stressed that the two year time-frame mooted for its replacement was unacceptable. The Roads Minister confirmed that he and the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper MP, would take this matter up with National Highways.
Michael met Cllr Valerie White, Borough Councillor for Bagshot and North Windlesham, at the Whitmoor Road entrance to the footbridge, and published a video update, which can be viewed here.
Michael received a response from National Highways, attached below, setting out the sequence of events that lead to the emergency closure of the footbridge.
4th October 2023 – Hard barriers have been installed by National Highways on the footbridge
National Highways provided the below response to Cllr Rebecca Jennings-Evans on the closure:
"We’re letting you know about some work we’ve started to replace the footbridge (footpath 184) over the M3 between Whitmoor Road, Bagshot and Lightwater Country Park.
"For safety reasons, we’ve had to close the bridge with immediate effect. This follows a structural assessment which has highlighted some defects. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We will need to demolish the existing bridge and replace it with a new one that will also accommodate cyclists and provide better connectivity.
"We anticipate that the new bridge will be in place from Autumn 2025.
"To demolish the existing bridge, we’ll need to close the M3 in both directions over a weekend, however we’ll let you know in advance when we’re about to do this."
3rd October 2023 – The footbridge over the M3 from Bagshot to Lightwater Country Park is closed
Lightwater County Councillor, Rebecca Jennings-Evans, contacted Michael to inform him of the emergency closure of the footbridge over the M3 from Bagshot to Lightwater Country Park. Michael immediately wrote to National Highways and released the below statement:
"I was hugely disappointed to learn of National Highways’ decision regarding this morning’s closure of the footbridge over the M3 from the Lighwater Country Park to Whitmoor Road in Bagshot.
"I am aware just how vital a link this footbridge is between Bagshot and Lightwater, and that its closure is a massive blow to local residents, particularly those using it to travel to and from work and school.
"Whilst I can very much appreciate National Highways has decided its closure is necessary due to apparent safety worries regarding the structural integrity of this bridge, I am concerned at why the decision seems to have been made with almost no forewarning, and that residents and local councillors have now been informed that it will take up to two years to be replaced.
"Residents are rightly hugely aggrieved at this news, especially given that the alternative routes for crossing the M3 are both a significant diversion, and of questionable safety themselves, which is especially worrying for parents of children walking to school in the darker, colder winter months.
"I also worry that this decision from National Highways will force residents who previously relied on the footbridge into their cars, further damaging the environment and worsening the already significant congestion issues along the M3 in Surrey Heath.
"In light of all of the above, I have urgently written to National Highways to ask when this decision was made, and for an explanation as to why residents, councillors, and I, were not informed earlier. Further to this, looking at the considerable disruption this closure will have on so many residents’ lives, I have explained that it is absolutely necessary that National Highways urgently explores measures to expedite a completion of a replacement footbridge as soon as possible.
"I am grateful to Cllr Rebecca Jennings-Evans for all of her work thus far, and have asked to speak to National Highways, with her and Cllr Richard Tear, as soon as possible to investigate further."
2nd October 2023 - National Highways informs Surrey County Council of its decision to close the footbridge over the M3 from Bagshot to Lightwater
Following a survey of the footbridge over the M3 on 28th September, National Highways have taken the decision to close the footbridge between Lightwater Country Park and Whitmoor Road, Bagshot, over the M3 from 06:00 on 3rd October.
This is on safety grounds as the bridge has been damaged by high-sided vehicle strikes. The closure is expected to last for 24 months, to allow time for the design, commission and installation of the new structure, with the bridge planned to be demolished within two months.
