Angmering Bypass roadworks begin: 'Delays likely' for months but they will pause for Christmas

Utility repair and maintenance works started on the A280 on Monday (November 6) – and they are expected to last until February 2024, with a Christmas hiatus.

Two sets of two-way signals have been installed as part of traffic management measures, according to one.network.

A notice on the website read: “Roadworks – delays likely [on the] Angmering Bypass, 6 November 2023 - 2 February 2024.”

There will be no footway closures as part of the works, which will have an ‘early start’.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “These are essential upgrade works to provide more electrical capacity to Angmering Village and the wider area and service building developments that have recently taken place, those happening now, and future development.

“Our Streetworks staff have had numerous meetings with Connect It to try to reduce the disruption as much as possible and the original predicted timeframe for the works has been significantly reduced, with Connect It doubling its resource with additional teams and machinery."

The council said two phases are planned. Phase one started on Monday and is scheduled to end on December 15, in time for the festive season. Phase two will run between January 4 and February 2, 2024 – which will include a road closure in Old Worthing Road, East Preston.

"To further reduce disruption, Connect It hopes to act collaboratively so its work can be done under an already-agreed closure of Old Worthing Road,” a council spokesperson added.

"This agreed closure is for another company’s development and connection works.”

Matthew Jones, streetworks manager at Last Mile Asset Management, said the company’s job is to lay electric cables from an existing point to the ‘new development roughly 1,500m away’.

He added: “Due to the scale of works, Last Mile would have had to apply for a permit with the local roads authority at least three months in advance and all traffic management, road closures, diversions, etc would have had to been agreed by the local authority as it is on their roads we intend to carry out works.

“Although the permit states the works will be ongoing from the 06/11/23 till the 02/02/24, it is agreed that works and site will be cleared by the 15/12/23 and resume again in the new year, which should hopefully minimise any disruption through the Christmas period.”

The contractor said its workers will follow West Sussex Highways’ specification, adding: “They will have the power to make the necessary recommendations or changes.”