A3 road

The A3 is a major road running southwest from central London to Portsmouth. It passes close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford and Petersfield. For much of its length it is a dual carriageway managed by National Highways. The road travels in a southwest direction after Liss. Near its southern end motorway traffic uses the A3(M) before the A27 or M275. The Portsmouth Road once linked London with the Royal Navy’s main port. In the 17th century Guildford’s bench of justices was expanded because of the road’s importance. Highwaymen such as Jerry Abershawe terrorised the area around Kingston in the 18th century. The Hawkhurst Gang committed a murder near Liphook in 1749. The Devil’s Punch Bowl near Hindhead was another dangerous spot where a sailor was killed in 1786. The Kingston bypass opened in 1927 after traffic in the town centre rose by over 160% in ten years. It ran for 8.5 miles from Richmond Park to Esher and attracted new housing developments. The bypass now forms part of the A309 near the Scilly Isles junction. South of Richmond Park the road runs close to Beverley Brook and Wimbledon Common. The speed limit rises to 50 mph before the Coombe Flyover and Shannon Corner.