Water leak discovered during repairs to pothole-hit road near Chichester
Repair work on the B2201 Chichester Road near Donnington has been complicated by the discovery of a water leak, with the road closure also affecting bus services between Chichester and The Witterings.
Repair teams from West Sussex Highways arrived on site on the morning of Tuesday, October 27, to begin work on the road, which was closed after two large potholes were discovered.
However, a water leak was identified within the repair area, prompting teams to work with the relevant utility partners to investigate the issue and establish the next steps.
In an update issued at midday on October 27, a spokesperson for West Sussex Highways said: “Our team arrived on site this morning to begin repair works. A water leak was identified within the repair area, and we are working with the relevant utility partners to investigate the issue and determine the next steps.”
It added that further updates would be provided when available.
The latest development comes after West Sussex Highways closed a section of the B2201 Chichester Road near Donnington on Monday, October 26, following the discovery of two large potholes, each approximately 140mm deep.
The defects were considered ‘too close together and too large to repair safely’ under temporary traffic signals, meaning a full road closure was required.
The closure has also affected Stagecoach services 52 and 53, which connect Chichester with The Witterings. The services were already operating on diverted routes because of the Stockbridge Road gas works, which began earlier in October.
With the B2201 now closed, Stagecoach said the alternative rural roads between Hunston and The Witterings were unsuitable for large vehicles. The operator also raised safety concerns about using Green Lane during the evening peak, when traffic volumes increase.
A Stagecoach spokesperson said there were no suitable or safe alternative routes for its larger vehicles, prompting the introduction of an emergency bus service.
The temporary arrangements are as follows:
Route: An emergency service operates between the Co-op store on Stockbridge Road and The Witterings.
Service number: All journeys operate as Service 53.
Departures: Buses leave the Co-op at 30 minutes past each hour.
Last departure: The final bus from the Co-op is scheduled for 11.30pm.
Access to Chichester: Passengers travelling to or from the city need to walk to or from the Co-op store on Stockbridge Road.
The arrangements will remain in place until the B2201 reopens or a safe and viable alternative route can be identified.
Stagecoach apologised for the disruption and said the safety of its staff and passengers remained its priority. The operator added that further updates would be provided as more information became available.
Motorists and bus passengers are advised to check for the latest travel information before setting out, as the emergency road closure and newly identified water leak add to existing disruption caused by the Stockbridge Road works.