Cowfold roadworks continue to cause havoc

The traffic chaos has troubled drivers since temporary traffic lights were introduced last Monday (September 9) despite the work starting on August 12 to improve the drainage system at the Coach House Roundabout.

Last week we reported how one mum was forced to abandon her car to try and get her children to school after being prevented by the disruption on the A272 both ways and at A281 Brook Hill, which is due to be completed on Friday (September 20)

Steven Pacitti also contacted the County Times when he discovered the roadworks as he returned home from work, taking him an hour to get from Bolney to Cowfold.

He said: “I was furious that no advance warning was given so that I could have planned a different route.

“They’ve done this at the same time as the A23 works of course, the closure of Handcross junction, and roadworks at Turner’s Hill, Crawley affecting all traffic trying to join the M23 from Crawley Avenue.

“So basically I have three routes home, they’ve messed up all three of them as the only way I can avoid Cowfold is to come the A24 Horsham route home, and there are roadworks in Crawley on the road to the A264 - at West Green Sainsbury,” continued Steven.

“Why do they plan these works all at the same time, and all as schools are back?”

On Wednesday (September 11) West Sussex County Council (WSCC) apologised for the disruption and said the contractor Balfour Beatty is now manually controlling the lights during the day to help ease the flow of traffic.

The spokesperson added: “Installing new drainage pipes will be of great benefit to the location in the long run.”

Howeverm Laura Gosset, who drives the route everyday, described the situation as a ‘nightmare’ when the last mile of the A281 into Cowfold took her 45 minutes instead of the usual two or three minutes.

“I would hate to think how long it would have taken if I had not been intending to reach work early to catch up,” she explained.

“I would also like to mention that I saw no advance warning of the work and was faced with a journey, which in its entirety usually take 45 minutes at most, taking almost an hour and a half.”

A spokesperson from WSCC continued: “Temporary traffic management may be used to complete these works in a timely manner and may have to remain in place until materials have hardened.

“During the course of the works, barriers will be erected around excavations and will remain in place until the materials have hardened; for example the concrete surrounding drainage pipes and road gullies will need time to set.”

They also state there may be occasions when barriers remain in place overnight while the excavation is open and materials are hardening asking drivers to be vigilant.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Has the work affected you or your journey?

Let us know in the comments below or by emailing [email protected]