A23 Handcross to Warninglid widening scheme

The Project

The Highways Agency plans to improve the A23 Trunk Road between Handcross and Warninglid, south of Crawley. The proposals are intended to improve traffic flow by widening the existing road and improve safety by bringing the road up to current design standards.

Background

This is a Trunk Road project being promoted by the Highways Agency (HA). An ECI (Early Contractual Involvement) contract was awarded to Carilion plc (formerly Alfred McAlpine Project Services) in 2005, and Jacobs UK appointed their designers. It has been packaged with another scheme on the A27 between Southerham and Beddingham near Lewes, which is the priority scheme within this package.

Consultation

West Sussex County Council, as the local highway authority, has been consulted throughout the development of this project and has ensured that local transport issues are addressed.

Detailed scheme proposals were published under the Highways Act in October and November 2008 and were open for comment and objection until 23rd January 2009. A significant number of objections were received in response to the publication of the draft Orders, and a Public Inquiry was held in June 2009 at Slaugham Manor Training and Conference Centre in Slaugham.

Programme

At the end of May 2010 it was announced that progress with the scheme had been deferred as part of reductions in the Department for Transport's 2010/11 budget, announced by the Treasury on the 24 May 2010. It is not known how long the deferment will be but it is anticipated that this will be considered as part of the Autumn Spending Review.

Full details of the Highways Agency’s proposals can be found on their website.