A27 closures are new blow for Arundel traders

The trunk route will be closed from 8pm-6am between Fontwell and Crossbush, while contractors for the Highways Agency carry out essential resurfacing work, and reinstate white lines and road studs.

Diversions will be set up through Bognor, Wick and along the A284 to rejoin the A27 at Crossbush, with the reverse route for traffic approaching from the east.

Originally, the overnight work was planned to last for three weeks, but the agency and its contractors, Balfour Beatty, managed to shorten the schedule to one week, recognising the difficulties a longer closure could create. However, the timetable is still dependent on weather conditions.

The closures come just a couple of years after major improvements to the A27 intersection with the A284 at nearby Crossbush led to delays of up to two hours for some motorists and badly affected some traders in Arundel, who claimed the queues were keeping customers away.

A campaign was launched to highlight that Arundel was still open for business as the work dragged on.

Now it’s feared that the evening trade for pubs and restaurants will be hit by next week’s work, although there will be access to Arundel via Ford Road from the south and along the A284 from Whiteways to the north.

Nico Ciaramella, of the La Camapania Italian restaurant, in High Street, had heard nothing of the plan to close the A27 until he was contacted by the Gazette.

He said: “No one has told us anything about this. It’s bound to affect our trade.”

James Stewart, deputy chairman of Arundel Chamber of Commerce, and an Arundel town councillor, said: “The Highways Agency has not consulted with the town council or the chamber about this.

“The restaurant trade is very, very busy in the evening. The Crown Yard car park is as full in the evening as it is at busy times of the day. The Highways Agency will have to put up signs saying the restaurants are open as usual.”

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said diversions were mainly for people travelling through the area and, as much as possible, local people would still have access.

“We are aware that any roadworks which will ultimately have benefits can have negative implications at the time.

“Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused by this. We use diversion routes agreed with Sussex Police to reduce as much disruption as possible.”