Major A27 Arundel bypass plans go on show today
Plans to improve journeys for tens of thousands of drivers along the A27 through Arundel have been unveiled by Highways England.
Three options for upgrading the road are being put forward, valued between £135m and £260m, including two proposed new routes for the A27 to the south of the town and one proposal widening the A27 mostly along its existing route. Each would create a new dual carriageway to join up the two existing sections of dual-carriageway either side of Arundel to reduce journey times, improve reliability and make the road safer.
Options for upgrading the A27 at Arundel
A public consultation on the proposals starts today and runs until 16 October. Highways England is holding eight information exhibitions at venues across Arundel and Littlehampton so that people can examine the proposals and put any questions directly to project team.
Highways England programme manager Valerie Stephens said:
The single carriageway A27 through Arundel has been a missing link in the road network for decades. Now, major improvements are finally within reach. People’s input will be vital in finding the right way forward, and I encourage anyone with an interest in the A27 to get involved – whether they’re commuters, or live nearby, depend on it for business or to keep in touch with friends and family or use it to access one of the many leisure destinations along the south coast.
Arundel has a special environment and a unique cultural heritage and, while building any new road will have an impact, we are committed to delivering the improvements responsibly and have developed our proposals with the environment very much in mind. Again, people’s ideas about how we can protect and enhance the environment are very welcome indeed.
Funding for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s £15 billion Roads Investment Strategy that is improving journeys, cutting congestion and boosting the economy. The project is one of three major improvements for the A27 being taken forward by Highways England, including upgrades between Worthing and Lancing and to the East of Lewes.
The three options are:
Option 1
A new dual-carriageway from Crossbush junction, passing to the south west of Arundel railway station, re-joining the existing A27 east of Ford Road, which will be widened to a dual carriageway. This option also includes improvements at Crossbush junction, new bridges over the railway line and the River Arun and a new pedestrian/cycle path from Crossbush junction.
Option 3
A new dual-carriageway from Crossbush junction, south of the current A27, rejoining the A27 at a new junction near Havenwood Park. This option also includes improvements at Crossbush junction, new bridges over the railway line and the River Arun and a new pedestrian/cycle path between Crossbush junction and Yapton Lane.
Option 5A
A new dual-carriageway following the same route as option 3 between Crossbush junction and Ford Road. From Ford Road the route continues west passing through the South Downs National Park and Binsted Woods, re-joining the existing A27 at a new junction near Yapton Lane. This option also includes improvements at Crossbush junction, new bridges over the railway line and the River Arun and a new pedestrian/cycle path between Crossbush junction and Yapton Lane.
All responses to the consultation will be carefully considered before an announcement is made on a preferred route this winter. Subject to a successful outcome, construction could start as early as 2021 and take around two years to complete.
Details on the proposals and feedback forms will be available online from today until 11:45pm on 16 October 2017 on the scheme pages.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.