In the July edition of this newsletter you'll find scheme updates from across the county, information about the WSHighways X account and the Public Rights of Way Annual Report.
North:
Traffic light upgrades ahead for Southgate Avenue, Crawley
Obsolete traffic lights will soon be replaced with new, more reliable, and energy-efficient equipment at three junctions and a bus gate in Southgate Avenue, Crawley.
To help minimise disruption, the project will be split into three phases. Please note: the following dates are entirely provisional and subject to last-minute changes due to unforeseen circumstances, such as severe weather.
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Southgate Avenue’s junctions with Southgate Drive and Hawth Avenue, 15/07/2024 to 13/09/2024
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Southgate Avenue’s junction with Tilgate Way, 16/09/2024 to 01/11/2024
- The bus gate at the southern end of Southgate Avenue, junction with Brighton Road, 06/11/2024 to 15/11/2024.
Refurbishment of Pedestrian Crossing on Leylands Road, Burgess Hill
Works to install a greener and more efficient pedestrian crossing at Leylands Road between Junction Road and Gladstone road in Burgess Hill. The current crossing equipment is no longer efficient and needs replacing. The refurbishment works start from the 08/07/2024 to 26/07/2024. There will be lane closure with traffic management in place.
Essential work starts soon to reconstruct river wall on A285 Westhampnett Road, Chichester
Essential work starts soon to replace the river wall that helps support the A285 Westhampnett Road in Chichester. To avoid further disruptions, works to replace obsolete pedestrian crossing lights will be carried out at the same time. The works will start on 12/08/2024 and take approximately eight weeks.
The northbound lane in Westhampnett Road will be closed on weekdays for the duration of the works between St James Road and Church Road. Access to properties from Westhampnett Road will be maintained and pedestrian access will be unaffected .
The northbound bus stop adjacent to St James Industrial Estate will be suspended and buses diverted via St James Road for Stagecoach 500 customers and via Swanfield Drive, Bradshaw Road, and Barnfield Drive for Compass 71, 85, 85A and 99 customers.
The traffic management will be lifted every Friday evening to Monday morning. Also, to provide a ‘buffer’ around the Goodwood Revival weekend, the lane closure and diversion will be removed from 05/09/2024 to 09/09/2024, inclusive.
Chichester – Westgate Roundabout conversion to Dutch Style Roundabout
The development at West of Chichester (Whitehouse Farm), requires a programme of highway improvements to the local highway network. As part of the improvements, Mildren Construction began work on a Dutch-style roundabout to replace the existing roundabout at the Westgate / Orchard Street (A286) / Avenue de Chartres (A286) / West Street junction on 03/06/2024. The new roundabout design will improve travel for people on foot, bikes, and mobility aids.
This is a developer’s scheme. However, the Highways Agreements team has set up a further information webpage which will be updated monthly to show progress.
Installation of a new drainage system in Coldwaltham
A29 London Road, Barn Cottage, Coldwaltham, Pulborough. Works to install a new drainage system is due to start from 24/07/2024 to 30/08/2024 between 07:30 – 17:30. There will be lane closure with traffic management in place.
Community Highway Scheme in Durrington, Worthing
Salvington Road junction Acacia Avenue & Cotswold Road, and Acacia Avenue, Durrington, Worthing. The scheme originates from a community Highways Scheme application proposed by the school governors at Durrington Infant & Junior School to address concerns for pupils crossing multiple junctions which have no formal crossing points. The measures are intended to help Pedestrians cross the junctions at suitable locations and reduce speeds on approach to the junction. The works to start from 29/07/2024 to 23/08/2024 between 07:30 – 17:30. Multi way temporary traffic lights will be in permanent operation on the junction & a road closure in place when the carriageway is resurfaced from 20/08/2024 to 23/08/2024 between 07:30 – 17:30.
Road Safety Scheme in Goring-by-Sea
A259 between Alinora Avenue and Clive Avenue as well as the junctions of Alinora Avenue, Clive Avenue and Goring Road. A local safety scheme to provide on carriageway cycle lanes through the existing toucan crossing on the A259 and provision of a pedestrian crossing refuge island across Alinora Avenue. Works also include reconstruction of the carriageway at the junction of Alinora Avenue, footway, and minor sign improvements. Works to start from 29/07/2024 to 30/08/2024 between 06:00 – 18:00. To facilitate carriageway reconstruction works Alinora Avenue will be closed between 29/07.2024 to 16/08/2024. Multiway lights will then be in place between 19/08/2024 and 30/08/2024.
The Local Transport Improvement Programme (LTIP) Team works with schools and communities to deliver safe and sustainable improvements that support County Council priorities. These priorities now focus on Active Travel Please see below for the current and upcoming schemes:
Lavant School, Lavant – 04/06/2024 – 10/07/2024
Chesswood School – 22/07/2024 – 26/09/2024
Birchwood Grove Primary School – 29/07/2024 – 30/08/2024
A member of staff from the WSCC ‘Road Safety Group’ recently attended two local events, along with representatives from the ‘Sussex Safer Roads Partnership’ (SSRP).
In May, it was the ‘Crawley Festival’. This is a popular event, attended by lots of local families, covering a wide age-range of road users.
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In June, The South of England Show in Ardingly proved, as always, to be an extremely popular event with quite an overwhelming turnout. This event presented the rare opportunity to reach out to a higher volume of horse-riders than usual and offer them additional safety advice, which was provided by a member of The British Horse Society who also spent the day with the team. |
Attending these events gives us a great opportunity to engage with members of the public, by discussing local road safety concerns and sharing with them, new information and resources.
Project updates are frequently posted on the West Sussex Highways X account (formerly Twitter). Just search @WSHighways if you aren't already following.
We continued to deliver our 15-month inspection and maintenance programme During 2023 our routine maintenance contractor, County Tree Surgeons, amongst other works, delivered:
- 1215 signs
- 126 bridges
- 13 boardwalks
- 39 flights of steps
- 52km of surface vegetation clearance
- 76 other works (e.g. handrails, small surfacing projects)
Our inspections continue to be greatly assisted by Parish Path Inspector Volunteers working with our local Access Rangers to inspect every path every 15 months, on a parish-by-parish basis. Our Volunteer Rangers also support the service by undertaking a variety of practical works to supplement our maintenance programme across the county. During 56 tasks days during 2023 our Volunteer Rangers delivered:
- 8km of vegetation clearance and removed 29 fallen trees;
- Installed 8 new bridges and rebuilt 4;
- Installed 7 plank crossings and 28m of boardwalk;
- Laid 42 tonnes of Type-1 stone for surfacing improvements;
- Installed 44 new steps.
Produced by the Stakeholder and Partnerships Officer, Highways Transport and Planning. Please contact active.communities@westsussex.gov.uk with any comments or suggestions.
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