WORK is well underway to turn Redhill town centre into a two-way road system – but the schedule has already suffered a three-month setback.
Dozens of red cones are lining several streets around the town's one-way system as Surrey County Council contractors Kier continue work on the £4 million Balanced Network scheme.
The end result will be a two-way traffic system, hoped-for improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes and a makeover of the pedestrianised area between the Station Roundabout and Maple Square to make the town more attractive.
Work began earlier this year and was due to finish in December.
However, according to the latest newsletter issued to residents by the county council in July, the last of the works, on Princess Way, is now scheduled to be completed in March 2015.
Work to alter the entrance to the Belfry Shopping Centre car park to adapt to the new two-way system was due to begin on July 28, according to the schedule in May.
However, the works are now pencilled to start on September 26.
Andy Nash, Belfry centre manager, said he was in ongoing talks with the county council about the time scale.
He added the work on the St Matthew's Road entrance will include a new mini roundabout.
"The entrance is fed currently by the one way traffic, which is obviously becoming two-way so the whole thing needs to be reconfigured," he said.
"Our entrance will stay where it is but people can access it from both ways, especially if they're coming from the west – Reigate direction – instead of having to go all the way around Sainsbury's and Marketfield Way, this will make life much easier for people."
The exit will also be widened allowing drivers to turn left or right out of the car park.
Mr Nash added: "There will be a pedestrian crossing quite close to the exit and the traffic light controls will give enough breaks to allow free flow traffic of vehicles in and out of the exit. It will need a bit of tweaking once it's up and running to get the phasing right."
Despite the building work, visitors will still be able to use the car park. It is hoped scrapping the one-way system will alleviate congestion during rush hour and encourage more shoppers to the town.
Some residents have raised concerns over the removal of the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Noke Drive and Redstone Hill, Redhill. According to Surrey County Council's plans, this will be reinstalled once work to adjust the road layout is complete.
