A27 Chichester bypass consultation to launch on Thursday July 14
Multi-million pound upgrade to the A27 Chichester bypass have been unveiled.
Plans to improve journeys for tens of thousands of drivers with a multi-million pound upgrade to the A27 Chichester bypass have been unveiled, as Highways England prepares to launch a consultation.
The 10 week public consultation will get underway on July 14, seeking views on five different options to make local commutes faster and more reliable whilst protecting the environment.
Funding for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s £15 billion Roads Investment Strategy that is providing people with better journeys, cutting congestion and improving the economy.
Highways England will be holding 14 information exhibitions at venues across Chichester and the local area so that the public can examine the proposals and speak to project team to give their feedback.
Project Manager Valerie Stephens said:
We are committed to improving journeys for the 45,000 drivers who use the A27 in Chichester every day and now the Government’s record investment in roads means those improvements are coming.
We want to make sure the improvements we take forward are the right ones for drivers and people living and working in Chichester and they deliver the most overall benefit and value.
We genuinely want to hear what people think and the consultation will help shape the final plans.
All of the options being consulted on involve major upgrades to junctions along the existing route of the A27. Each one offers a different mix of benefits and people’s views will be crucial in choosing the right option for Chichester.
A brief description of each option is below:
- new slip roads at two junctions (Fishbourne and Bognor) and restricted access at others
- new slip roads at two junctions (Fishbourne and Bognor), restricted access at Oving only - no works at Stockbridge or Whyke
- new slip roads at two junctions (Fishbourne and Bognor) and restricted access at others plus closures at Stockbridge and Whyke (north to south movements retained), a new Stockbridge link road from Fishbourne to B2145
- junction improvements with traffic signals at majority of junctions (except Portfield) and some restricted access
- junction improvements with traffic signals to Fishbourne, Stockbridge and Whyke, new improved slip roads at Bognor Road - widening to three lanes between Fishbourne and Bognor Road - no works at Oving or Portfield
The consultation will set out the results of the detailed work Highways England and its suppliers have been doing with stakeholders to identify potential options. It will present the case for each of the five options, considering how effectively each one provides a long term solution to alleviate congestion, both for local drivers and road users travelling longer distances along the A27. It will also give details of the affordability and value for money of each option.
Chichester has a rich cultural heritage and beautiful surrounding countryside – the shortlisted options will take these fully into account.
All responses will be carefully considered before a final decision on the preferred option is made by the Government later this year. That in turn will be fully consulted on giving people plenty of opportunities to have their say. The aim is for construction to start in 2019 with the road opened by 2020/21.
Proposals and feedback forms will be available on the scheme website as well as at public information events as follows.
Public exhibition dates and locations:
- Monday 25 July: Chichester Assembly Rooms - 10am to 8pm
- Monday 01 August: Fishbourne Centre - 10am to 7pm
- Tuesday 02 August: Fishbourne Centre - 10am to 7pm
- Saturday 06 August: North Mundham Community Centre - 10am to 2pm
- Tuesday 09 August: Chichester Baptist Church - 10am to 7pm
- Wednesday 10 August: Chichester Baptist Church - 10am to 7pm
- Friday 19 August: Boxgrove Village Hall - 10am to 7pm
- Saturday 20 August: Boxgrove Village Hall - 10am to 2pm
- Tuesday 30 August: Lavant Memorial Hall - 10am to 8pm
- Friday 02 September: Lavant Memorial Hall - 10am to 8pm
- Friday 09 September: Bracklesham Barn - 10am to 7pm
- Saturday 10 September: Bracklesham Barn - 10am to 2pm
- Wednesday 14 September: Chichester Assembly Rooms - 10am to 8pm
- Thursday 15 September: Chichester Assembly Rooms - 10am to 8pm
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.