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The air quality along some sections of an A3 footpath is so bad, that National Highways is proposing closing them. The organisation is considering pointing walkers elsewhere until nitrogen

dioxide levels improve. The organisation has closely monitored roadside N02 concentrations along the A3 as it passes through Guildford between A31 Farnham Road and the Dennis Roundabout /

Wooden Bridge junction. While this monitoring shows that air quality has improved, the only sections where N02 remain above the legal threshold are on the footway next to the east side of

the A3 carriageway (approximately A31 junction to Egerton Road) Now National Highways is proposing to close these sections of footway until air quality improves and re-direct people to

alternative routes. The crossing points across the A3 carriageway will be unaffected. Other options considered included air quality barriers, electric vehicle promotion, Clean Air Zones, and

dedicated low emission vehicle lanes. Before closing the path they plan to upgrade alternative routes to improve accessibility and surfacing. The organisation is working with Surrey County

Council and Guildford Borough Council to develop designs for these improvements. A National Highways spokesperson said: “We monitor air quality across our network and where nitrogen dioxide

(NO2) levels are too high, we look for measures we can take to help bring it down. “Our recent air quality monitoring at this location shows that the areas which exceed the legal threshold

have significantly reduced. We recognise that any closures will have an impact on the local community so are limiting them to only those sections where NO2 is above the legal threshold.”

Nitrogen dioxide is a gas mainly produced during the combustion of fossil fuels. Where levels are above the legal limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter, National Highways have a legal

requirement to seek measures to reduce pollution or limit exposure.