A27 major upgrade announced

A major upgrade has been announced for the eastern A27, which will improve journey times for the 26,000 drivers who use the route.

The £75M upgrade will see nine miles of the Sussex road improved, comprising four junctions between Lewes and Polegate. A section of the Polegate bypass will also be upgraded, providing a dual carriageway, with walking and cycling facilities improved across the whole stretch.

Highways England put the plans forward for public consultation last year, with 78 per cent of respondents backing the need for improvements. The results of the consultation have now been released and preferred options identified.

Improvement works will include widening several areas of the route, such as Drusillas Roundabout and the dual carriageway works, with an upgraded, signalised junction at Polegate; junction improvements, comprising right turn lanes at Gainsborough Lane junction, and easier access and egress to the A27 at Wilmington; plus significant enhancements to the walking and cycle routes along the nine mile stretch, including a new pedestrian and cycle path between Firle and Polegate.

The improvements come as part of the government’s £15Bn investment in roads strategy, aimed at making journeys easier, quicker and safer.

Highways England Project Manager Tom Beasley said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation. It’s great to see that there is such strong backing for improvements to this section of the A27, and there were some really good ideas put forward. People’s input has helped to shape our plans and we’ve made some key changes to our proposals to make sure they deliver the biggest benefit. In particular we’ve prioritised improvements at Polegate including the Gainsborough Lane junction, over the Selmeston bypass option and introduced a new enhanced option for upgrading the Wilmington junction – all as a result of people’s input. There will be an opportunity for people to see more detailed plans when we present the final designs at public exhibition events next year.”

 

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