The A27 trunk road is managed by National Highways on behalf of the government. The A27 is the principal east-west road on the south coast but it is regularly congested and severs communities at Chichester, Arundel, Worthing and Lancing.
Improvements to the A27 and complementary public transport improvements at these locations are priorities in the West Sussex Transport Plan. The improvements are needed to increase capacity, improve reliability and safety and to help increase the competitiveness of local businesses and attract investment.
Options for major improvements have previously been developed by National Highways. However, the Chichester scheme was cancelled in 2017 and the Arundel, Worthing and Lancing schemes were cancelled in 2024.
Despite the cancellation of these schemes there is still a need for major A27 improvements, so the county council is working with Transport for the South East to press the government to include A27 improvements in its Road Investment Strategy.
In the absence of major A27 improvements, the county council is also continuing to work with National Highways and local planning authorities to bring forward small-scale A27 improvements as planned development takes place.