The Highways Agency is consulting over improvements to Junction 10 of the M25 (A3 interchange). This development, if it happens, will provide an opportunity to improve the existing cycle path beside the A3, and in particular to provide better means for cyclists to negotiate this busy junction. So today, I undertook an exploration of the nine and a half miles or so of this cycle path from the Burpham A3 on-ramp, to the Cobham junction, to document its current state, as described in the map and photos below.
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| A3 on-ramp at Burpham |
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| I love the smell of diesel in the morning.... smells like ...the A3 |
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| Sutton Place entrance |
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| Hope no cyclists were passing |
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| The route leaves the A3 and follows the B2215 through Ripley |
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| There is a reasonable 'white line' cycle lane |
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| Entering Ripley village |
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| Ripley village centre - care needed |
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| Cross under the A3 at Ockham roundabout |
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| Cross A3 off slip |
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| Cycle path is narrow and leaf-strewn in places |
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| Passing Bolder Mere |
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| Bolder Mere (could be the Highlands apart from the din) |
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| Deceptively quiet |
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| Approaching the J10 roundabout |
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| Cross M25 off-slip |
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| Cross over the roundabout |
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| Cross the M25 bridge |
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| Cross the roundabout again |
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| Cross the A3 off-slip (I believe the sign "London (A3)" is pointing the wrong way! Or are cyclists supposed to use the actual A3 carriageway: surely not) |
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| Heading towards Cobham junction |
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| Path is grotty in parts |
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| Arrived at the Cobham roundabout |
Thanks for this - very useful as I am considering this route as a commute. Looks to me like it's not suitable for a pure road bike, but would need a gravel/hybrid/MTB with some upper 20s+ tyres on?
ReplyDeleteThank you for this - it was very useful when I cycled this route today. It's totally horrible, but a quick way to get from Guildford to Hersham. I passed only two cyclists in the whole 18 miles.
ReplyDeleteThis being summer, undergrowth threatens to swallow up parts of the path and by next month, the brambles will have completely engulfed it in some spots.
You'll be unsurprised to know that the 'London' sign is still pointing the wrong way. I forgot that you'd said this, so I wasted a mile or so on faffing around on the N side of the A3 before I twigged what was going on. Only then did I remember that you'd already pointed out the problem.
Believe it or not, I approached Highways England, and they confirmed that the sign is correct, cyclists are expected to join the London bound carriageway of the A3. Crazy! I would continue to use the pavement on the other side. As you may know, an improved cycle way is proposed as part of the A3 widening project.
DeleteI am pretty sure this cycle path has now been closed owing to the current works to complete the junction 10 interchange. Fingers crossed it is re opened after the work as it’s a great way to travel from Guildford /Ripley to Cobham.
ReplyDeleteYes, a high standard cycle path is planned from the Occam roundabout to the Cobham roundabout, with dedicated bridges crossing the A3 and M25, as can be viewed on the National Highways website.
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