In 2020, National Highways (formerly Highways England) announced the preferred route for the A27 Arundel bypass. This will replace the existing single carriageway road with a dual carriageway bypass, linking together the two existing dual carriageway sections of the road.
The new bypass will feature approximately 8km of dual two-lane carriageway to the south of the existing A27. Starting at Crossbush, the route will reconnect with the existing A27 in the west near the A27/A29 Fontwell (east) roundabout.
Key features will likely include:
- a junction at Crossbush with access to and from the A27 in both directions
- a new viaduct spanning the River Arun and a bridge over the Arun Valley Railway
- a new bridge over Binsted Rife
- a new junction with the existing A27 at Tye Lane to the north of Walberton (with the A27 continuing via an underpass) enabling westbound access onto the A27 and eastbound access from the A27
- the closure of Tye Lane south of the new route.
Subject to the agreement of the County Council (as local highway authority) the existing A27, approximately 6.6km in length, will be ‘detrunked’ and converted to a local road between the junctions with Tye Lane and Mill Road and Crossbush junction.
National Highways consulted on the draft proposal from 11 January to 8 March 2022. Information about the project, including the latest news about its development, is available on National Highways' website.
The County Council’s formal response to the consultation was approved in March 2022.
In autumn/winter 2022, National Highways consulted on changes to the design of the scheme. The County Council’s formal response to the consultation was approved in December 2022.
In March 2023, the Transport Secretary announced that the A27 Arundel bypass faced a range of challenges, including environmental considerations and ongoing design changes and so the scheme would be developed in Roads Investment Strategy 3 (covering 2025-2030) to allow time to ensure stakeholders’ views were fully considered. Accordingly, work on the scheme by the County Council has been paused until National Highways has considered the potential implications of the Government’s announcement and set out the next steps in the development of the scheme.
For more information, including formal documentation relating to the DCO process, see the Planning Inspectorate website - A27 Arundel bypass.