New action planned for A24 crash junction amid ongoing safety fears
New action is being taken to improve safety at a crash-site junction on the A24 near Horsham.
It follows a head-on crash last month at the Bar Lane junction of the A24 at Southwater – and reports of other accidents and near-misses at the spot.
Horsham MP John Milne raised concerns with highway chiefs at West Sussex County Council amid demands for urgent action ‘before someone is killed there.’
Now County Councillor Joy Dennis, cabinet member for highways and transport, says she is ‘very concerned’ about the situation and said that further works would be carried out at the junction including sign and road marking replacements, vegetation removal and signage cleaning.
Council officers are also contacting satellite navigation system providers after reports of sat navs giving ‘incorrect directions’ at the junction which has seen increasing numbers of drivers turning the wrong way up the southbound carriageway of the A24 from Bar Lane.
Councillor Dennis said that council officers would also be liaising with Sussex Police to see what else could be done. Meanwhile, she said, the extent of works needed at the junction woud be programmed ‘as a priority.’
But MP John Milne added: “What is happening at the moment is a serious safety risk and needs urgent action.”
A family of four – who had a miracle escape after a terrifying crash when a 4x4 vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road crashed into their van in January – have launched a petition calling for the junction to be closed.
However Councillor Dennis says that such a closure would have a ‘significant impact on the local community’ and would likely lead to a need for further improvements to other junctions.