A259 improvements scheme one step closer

West Sussex County Council will shortly submit a business case for dual carriageway along key sections of the A259. It is being sent to the Coast2Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, which subject to approval will jointly fund the scheme. The proposed improvements will support new employment space, new jobs and new housing for the Arun district in coming years. Once built, residents will experience fewer queues and shorter journey times. Motorists will know with greater certainty how long it will take to get them to get through the A259 each day. County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, John O’Brien, said: “This scheme will ease the strain on the A259 today and take the pressure of extra housing and a growing economy tomorrow. “There will be less congestion, less fumes and less queuing. “It will shave significant time off people’s journeys, make the road safer and encourage people to travel safely by bike.” The proposed construction will be split into phases, subject to funding. Phase one: Fitzalan Link Road roundabout* to Body Shop roundabout: • Dual carriageway in both directions. • Speed limits stays at 40mph. • Alterations to the Body Shop roundabout, including wider approaches and improved road markings. • New pedestrian/cycle path built south of the A259, separated from the road. • Toucan crossing for cyclists and pedestrians moved from (west of) Body Shop roundabout to (east of) Fitzalan Link Road roundabout. • Right turn into Oliver Acre closed. *Will be built as part of the Lyminster bypass project in 2017. Station Road roundabout to A280 roundabout: • Dual carriageway in both directions. • Speed limit stays at 50mph. • Alterations to both roundabouts, including wider approaches and improved road markings. • New pedestrian/cycle path built south of the A259, separated from the road. • Widened toucan crossing, between Station Road roundabout and Roundstone Road, for cyclists and pedestrians. • Removal of pedestrian crossing west of Roundstone roundabout. • Estimated cost: £14.8m Timeframe: Construction predicted to start in late 2017 for 18 months. Phases two and three: Bridge Road (Tesco) roundabout: • Larger roundabout, including wider approaches and improved road markings. • Junction improvements. • New pedestrian/cycle path that connects with Arun River Bridge cycle route and the local retail area. Goring Crossways: • New roundabout and road layout. • Dual carriageway westbound only. • New pedestrian/cycle path built south of the A259, separated from the road. • Cost: Estimated between £4m-£9m. Timeframe: Not yet known. It will start once local development is in place. A six-week public consultation about the proposals and design will take place between January 8 and February 19. In addition, four drop-in events take place in January for residents to ask questions and comment on the plans: • Saturday, January 23 (10am-1pm): Village Memorial Hall, Rustington Parish Council, 34 Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, BN16 3HB. • Tuesday, January 26 (10am-1pm): New Millennium Chamber, The Manor House, Littlehampton Town Council, Littlehampton, BN17 5EW. • Wednesday, January 27 (1-4pm):Village Memorial Hall, Rustington Parish Council, 34 Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, BN16 3HB. • Thursday, January 28 (5-8pm): King Suite, Angmering Village Hall, Station Road, Angmering, BN16 4HL. Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage 2) Like our Facebook page 3) Follow us on Twitter 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! Always the first with your local news. Be part of it.