Michael Gove MP held a follow-up virtual meeting with Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, together with several other National Highways team members, for an update on the timescale for the replacement footbridge.
Following the meeting, Michael said:
"On 13 October, I had a virtual meeting with Christine Allen, National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East, together with local County, Borough and Parish Councillors, Rebecca Jennings-Evans, Richard Tear, Valerie White and Katia Malcaus Cooper, when we all made clear the importance of expediting the replacement of the M3 footbridge between Bagshot and Lightwater.
"Earlier this week on Wednesday 6 December, I had a follow-up virtual meeting with Christine Allen, together 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 24 months, but now hopes to deliver the footbridge in May 2025, 5 months early.
"I am incredibly grateful to National Highways for appreciating the impact on the communities affected by the loss of this vital route, and I also appreciate that National Highways has looked hard at running various processes in parallel to help expedite the installation of the replacement footbridge.
"National Highways will share their workings and further information with me in due course, so residents can be reassured that everything is being done to speed up this process. In the meantime, National Highways has provided the following statement:
“We understand the importance of a safe M3 crossing for the local communities and we have commenced design work for a replacement of the current bridge. Normally, this process would take in excess of two years, however, we are currently working on a programme that would allow the construction of a new structure to commence in late 2024 with a new provision being available to users from May 2025. We will be able to provide more information once surveys have been completed early in the new year.”
"This is welcome news, and I will continue to keep in touch with National Highways about anything further that can be done to ensure a new footbridge is in place as soon as possible. I will, of course, share a further update as soon as I receive any additional information."
