A27 Crossbush roadworks should be completed by Easter after Transport Minister tells Highways Agency to "redouble efforts"

Road restrictions at Crossbush on the A27 should be lifted by Easter after the Transport Minister asked the Highways Agency to "redouble their efforts" to avoid disruption.

The announcement came after Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert took the concerns of local residents and businessmen over the roadworks at Crossbush to the Roads Minister last week (20 March).

Nick met with Mike Penning MP and a senior Highways Agency official to emphasise the impact of the disruption on local motorists and Arundel traders.  He asked if the work could be done at night and called for the programme to be accelerated to minimise further delays.

Mr Penning emphasised that this was essential repair work, but he promised three specific actions to help:

    Although the Highways Agency claimed that the majority of work was too dangerous to do at night, work would continue until dark every day, later now that the clocks have changed.  Safer work, like resurfacing, would be done at night.

    The Highways Agency now aimed to finish the work before Easter, earlier than planned, depending on the weather.  They understood the need to complete the work as soon as possible and the impact on Arundel over the long Easter weekend.

    The Highways Agency would liaise with Arundel's traders about improving signs and making clear that Arundel was open for business.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Penning said: "I fully understand the frustration local people feel at the delays on the A27 at Crossbush and the concerns of local businesses about their knock on effect on trade.

"That is why I have met with Nick Herbert MP and Highways Agency officials to discuss this issue.  While we all understand that the work being carried out is essential to improve the safety and resilience of the A27 I have asked the Highways Agency to redouble their efforts to take every possible opportunity to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.  We expect to be able to remove restrictions in time for the Easter weekend."

The Highways Agency said: "We are continuing to work very hard to keep delays to an absolute minimum while we carry out essential improvements at the Crossbush interchange and are pleased to report a marked improvement since last Monday.  We have also installed extra signs on the road network around Arundel to remind drivers that the town centre remains open for business.  We will continue to closely monitor traffic flow and make any adjustments necessary to keep disruption to an absolute minimum."

Nick Herbert commented: "As I saw for myself again this weekend, these roadworks continue to cause appalling delays and there has been a serious knock-on effect on Arundel's traders.

"I recognise that the roadworks have to be done but I am grateful to the Minister for asking the Highways Agency to redouble their efforts, for the commitment to look at signs to help Arundel's traders, and for indicating that the work should now be completed by Easter.

"The bank holiday period will be a busy time on the roads and for Arundel's traders, and it is essential that the work is completed by then.  I hope that the Highways Agency now understands the importance of meeting this deadline and the strength of local feeling about the disruption caused."

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