Preferred A259 improvements between Littlehampton and Bognor Regis revealed

West Sussex County Council has commissioned an options appraisal and fesibility study to investigate the corridor and identify a scheme to support planned growth in the area.

A number of shortlisted options have been examined and a corridor package, consisting of preferred options for each of the junctions, has been prepared.

A business case is set to be prepared to help secure funding from the Department for Transport.

The current estimated cost of all the improvements is in the region of £30million, according to an update given to Arun District Council’s planning policy sub-committee on Tuesday (December 15).

If government funding is successfully secured, a 15 per cent contribution would be expected through developer contributions from major housing schemes.

The preferred options for each of the junctions are:

A259/ B2132 Comet Corner junction:

Re-alignment and conversion to a four-arm roundabout, with sustainable transport interventions including bus priority measures.

A259/ Grevatt’s Lane - Bairds Business Park junction:

Extend 40mph speed limit to include junction (currently approx. 90m east of junction). Improve signage and visibility of the junction to road users (signage/markings/entry treatments). And upgrade existing ghost-island central reserve (hatched road markings) to a physical island.

A259/ B2233 Oystercatcher/ Climping Street junction:

Re-alignment of Yapton Road east and convert to a four-arm roundabout (focus land take to the south due to environmental constraints), with sustainable transport interventions including bus priority measures.

A259 Church Lane/ Crookthorn Lane roundabout:

Adopt/revise developer proposed roundabout including potential for closing the Crookhorn Lane arm to traffic (ped/cycle only), with sustainable transport interventions including bus priority measures.

A259 Ferry Road:

Convert existing staggered cross-roads to a four-arm roundabout (normal type). This is likely to require realignment of both existing minor arm approaches.

A259 Bridge Road roundabout:

Upgrade/revise existing roundabout through the implementation of localised widen/free left turns where possible. Minor improvements. Inclusion of crossing points for peds/cycles.

A259/A284 Wick roundabout:

Convert to a signalised four-arm crossroad junction.

The progress made was welcomed by Arun district councillors.

Tony Dixon (Ind, Aldwick East) described how he had called for action on Comet Corner for years, even starting a petition and asking the county council’s then highways cabinet member to use the junction for a fortnight to see the problems for himself, an offer which was not taken up.

He added: “Overall I think this is fabulous news. The message seems to have gotten through and something is happening, which is great.”

Ricky Bower (Con, East Preston) thought the improvements were ‘long overdue’.

According to officers work will now start on traffic modelling to inform an outline business case, which will then be submitted to government.